title: Nonmedical methods to relieve low back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation: a descriptive study in northeastern Turkey.
abstract: Low back pain due to the effects of lumbar disc herniation is a common complaint of patients who often subsequently seek help from medical professionals. It is also a significant health problem which is quite difficult to treat. This descriptive study was conducted to determine nonmedical methods used by patients with lumbar disc herniation to relieve low back pain; the patients' intensity of low back pain when they were admitted to the hospital was also explored. Ninety-two patients with lumbar disc herniation participated in this study, which was carried out at a university hospital in northeastern Turkey. Data were collected using a patient information form and the visual analog scale (VAS). When the patients were admitted to hospital, their mean VAS score was 6.56 ± 2.45. The study results showed that as a first choice nearly all of the patients (94.6%) with lumbar disc herniation preferred consulting with their physicians before to obtain relief for low back pain. However, in addition to seeing their physician, more than one-half of these patients (57.6%) also used nonmedical methods. The primary nonmedical methods were hot/cold compresses, wrapping various substances on the back, and herbal preparations. An increase in pain was noted by 17.0% of patients after using nonmedical methods. Findings indicated that more than two-thirds of patients experienced either no change or an increase in pain after using nonmedical methods to find relief.
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University Trabzon School of Health, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: dilekcilingir1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cilingir
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University Trabzon School of Health, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hintistan
authors.affiliation: Gumushane University School of Health, Gumushane, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cagla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yigitbas
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University Trabzon School of Health, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nural
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010343:Patient Admission; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal