Musculoskeletal Disorders -Procedures, Side effects, Recovery time, Costs and alternatives

The musculoskeletal system in a human body comprises of ligaments, nerves, muscles, joints, tendons and the structures that are responsible for supporting the neck, back, and limbs. Any injury or pain and inflammation to the musculoskeletal system comes under musculoskeletal disorders. Some of the conditions which may be classified as a musculoskeletal disorder are Carpal tunnel syndrome: this is a condition wherein a patient gets a feeling of numbness in their arm and hand due to a nerve in the wrist which is pinched.

Tendonitis: this condition arises when a tissue which is connecting both the bones and the muscles gets inflamed.

Muscle strain: this condition usually occurs when the muscles get torn or overstretched. This condition commonly occurs in the shoulder, neck, back, and hamstring.

Epicondylitis: this is a condition that is known to affect the elbow of a patient. The tissue connecting the forearm muscle to the elbow gets inflamed.

Herniated disc: a patient suffers from this condition when there are pain and inflammation in the rubbery disc located between the spinal bones.

Degenerative disc disease: this disease occurs due to the normal changes which occur in the spinal cord and due to these changes pain arises in the spine of the patient.

Usually, the musculoskeletal diseases are caused due to age-related changes occurring in the body of the patient, the level of activity being performed by the patient, family history of the patient, and occupation. Besides these causes, there are certain activities which can lead to the occurrence of the musculoskeletal disease in a person

• Lifting heavy weights
• Maintaining a poor posture while working
• Sitting in the same position while working on the computer
• Engaging in repetitive motions.

For diagnosing the condition of musculoskeletal disease a doctor may ay first examine the patient physically for pain, muscle atrophy, swelling, redness and muscle weakness. Apart from the physical examination, a doctor may order some diagnostic tests like x-rays and MRI scans toconfirm the diagnosis. The treatment for musculoskeletal disorder usually includes pain-relieving medications as the first line of treatment. If the patient does not feel relief from the symptoms then a doctor may advise other treatments like physiotherapy, and osteopathic manipulation therapy.

For the treatment of the musculoskeletal disorder, a doctor may prescribe the following treatment

Medications: for the treatment of pain and inflammation related to the disease the doctor usually recommends non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines are readily available at any medical counter. The key in treating a condition like musculoskeletal disorder is a reduction in the inflammation hence this category of the pain killers is preferred as it not only reduces the inflammation but also provides relief in the pain. This medicine also prevents the clotting of blood. Apart from the oral medications, a doctor may prescribe some topical analgesics to be used for the treatment. The topical analgesics distract the brain from the pain by stimulating the nerve endings of the skin.

Physical therapy: if any patient is suffering from a severe condition of musculoskeletal disorder and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not able to provide long term relief from the pain and inflammation then a doctor advises a patient to undergo physical therapy. This therapy not only restores the range of motion of the patient but also effectively reduces the inflammation and pain. The physical therapy helps the patient in strengthening their body along with performing those functions which were earlier restricted due to the disorder.

Osteopathic manipulation therapy: for the patient suffering from the pain and inflammation of the musculoskeletal disorder this therapy is a hands-on care treatment. This therapy is performed by an osteopathic physician. In the therapy, the physician uses various techniques for providing relief from the pain, improve healing, and enhance the range of motion. The physician makes use of the resistance, gentle pressure and stretching for calming the muscle spasms. This results in the healing of the inflamed tissue. In patients suffering from the pain of the neck and back, this therapy has proven to be the most effective therapy. Apart from these treatments, a doctor may advise various other kinds of treatment for the condition of the musculoskeletal disorder for instance chiropractic care, and therapeutic massages.

A patient is eligible for the treatment of the musculoskeletal disorder if he/she is exhibiting the following symptoms of the disorder

• A patient suffering from the condition feels like their muscles have been pulled.
• Patients suffering from this disorder usually complain about the aches in their entire body.
• A patient might experience a burn or twitching in their muscles.
• A patient experiencing recurrent pain.
• A patient has swelling at the site of pain.
• The joints of the patient are stiff.
• A patient is experiencing dull aches.
• A patient would often complain about tiredness
• A patient would experience a problem with sleeping.

Apart from the presence of these symptoms a doctor may reconfirm his/her diagnosis by diagnostic test. If the diagnostic tests confirm the presence of musculoskeletal disorder then the patient becomes eligible for treatment.

A doctor decides whether a patient is eligible for the treatment or not. A patient is considered not eligible for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder if the patient is not exhibiting any of the symptoms of the disorder. The eligibility of the patient may also be considered based on the line of treatment given to the patient. For instance, a patient that is allergic to the non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs is not eligible for treatment through medications and is prescribed other treatments. If a patient is suffering from any other condition that has nearly similar symptoms then the patient can get misdiagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder, that patient is also not eligible for the treatment.

Side effects are a part of the treatment regimen. Whenever a patient undergoes a treatment either through medicine, or surgical procedure or injectable there is a chance that the patient may experience some side effect. The side effects range from being minor to major. The occurrence of side effects varies from person to person. The minor side effects experienced by the patient usually go away after a short period of time. However, if a patient experiences any major side effect then the doctor must be informed promptly.

The side effects associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are inclusive of a patient experiencing heartburn and pain in the stomach, increased blood pressure level, allergic reactions like throat swelling, ulcers in the stomach, lightheadedness, and ringing sensations in the ear. When a topical analgesic is applied then a patient may experience side effects like burning sensation at the site of application, rashes at the site of application, the formation of blisters, swollen facial features, and difficulty breathing. A patient undergoing physical therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder exhibits the following side effects

• A patient may experience pain.
• A patient may suffer from the soreness of muscle.
• A patient may experience bruising.
• Tiredness may be exhibited by the patient.

The side effects a patient experiences while undergoing OMT therapy treatment for musculoskeletal disorder include pain in the treatment area, fatigue, and a headache. Usually, the OMT is one of the safest treatment procedures and the side effects give above are only minor side effects which vanish after some time.

The post-treatment guidelines are a piece of advice which is given by the doctor after the completion of the treatment of a specific disorder. The post-treatment guidelines help the patient in their complete recovery from the disorder. Apart from the recovery, the post-treatment guidelines play a very vital role in preventing the reoccurrence of the disorder in the future. Some of the post-treatment guidelines which must be followed by the patient after the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder include

• If the patient has been prescribed pain-relieving medications then it must be taken as advised by the doctor.
• The physical therapy must not be stopped abruptly after the treatment. A patient must continue with the exercise regimen and then slowly stop the therapy.
• The patient must do some strengthening and stretchingexercises.
• The patients must not engage in repetitive motions.
• The patient must not lift heavy weights
• The patient must maintain the right posture.
• In case any discomfort is experienced then a patient must inform the doctor.

The recovery of the patient is based on the factors such as the severity of the musculoskeletal disorder that a patient is suffering from, and the treatment which has been advised to the patient by the doctor. A patient suffering from a minor condition may recover in a few days. In a moderately severe disorder, a patient may take 4 to 6 weeks for the treatment. However, a patient suffering from severe musculoskeletal disorder may take nearly 10 weeks to recover.

The cost of the treatment for a musculoskeletal disorder with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs would cost around 50 to 200 rupees per strip in India. The cost of treatment with physiotherapy depends on the type of city and the experience of the therapist. In a small city the cost of physiotherapy is approximately 300 to 600 rupees per session. In bigger cities, the cost of physiotherapy ranges from 1000 to 1500 rupees per session. OMT therapy for the treatment may cost around 2500 rupees per session.

The result of the treatment may appear to be permanent but still, there is a possibility that if proper care is not given to the patient after the recovery then musculoskeletal disorder may reoccur again in the future.

Apart from the treatment given above a patient may opt for acupuncture and acupressure as an alternative treatment to the condition of the musculoskeletal disorder. A patient may also opt for some natural remedies like turmeric and willow bark can be used for the treatment of inflammation and pain.