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Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Young Adults
We offer clinics specially designed for Young Adults, ages 18 to 25. And we make it easy to stay connected with your doctor while you are on the go. You can e-mail your doctor, make appointments, and refill prescriptions – all on our website, any time and any place.
Staying Safe: Tips for Young Adults
Accidents are a major cause of death in teens and young adults. There are simple precautions that you can take to stay safe. Your body and brain are worth protecting.
Stay alive
- Buckle up, every time. Seat belt laws are about more than just the law. Seat belts save lives.
- Make a commitment that you will not drink and drive and that you will not ride in a car with someone who has been drinking or is high.
- Wear a helmet when you are on your bike, skateboard, or skates. Bike helmet laws don't apply to you after age 18, so you can make your own decisions. It's the only brain you have, so choose safety.
- Protect yourself from fire by installing smoke alarms in all bedrooms and the kitchen. Check the batteries regularly.
Play safe
Be your best on the court, the field, the gym. If you do end up with an injury, don't ignore it.
Tips for preventing sports injuries
1. Warm up and cool down with slow, gentle activities, such as walking or the treadmill.
2. Build up gradually until you reach the length and intensity of exercise you're aiming for.
3. Be sure you have the right equipment and use it correctly.
4. Change your activities so that you use different muscle groups. For example, alternate days of walking with biking, aerobic dancing, or swimming. This is called cross-training.
5. If your only chance to exercise is when it's dark outside, make sure you are visible to drivers. Wear fluorescent patches on your clothing and equipment and add lights and reflectors to your bike.
Treating injuries
“No pain, no gain" is a myth. You don't need to have pain to become fit. Rest when you're tired or hurt.
While you are healing, try another activity that doesn't stress the injured area. Resume your regular activity slowly and build up only when you are free of pain.
Also, if you've strained or sprained a muscle, ligament, tendon, or bone, use the R.I.C.E. treatment:
- Rest the injured area for at least 24 to 48 hours.
- Ice. Apply ice or cold packs for 10 minutes several times a day for the first 72 hours.
- Compression. Wrap the injury with an Ace bandage to help with swelling, but not too tightly.
- Elevation. Elevate the injured area on pillows whenever you're sitting or lying down.
We have doctors that specialize in sports medicine, so if you're an athlete in training and want guidance about how to get strong and stay safe, ask your doctor for a referral.
Additional References:
- External Link to Health and Safety for College Students - CDC
- External Link to Young Adult Health - Get Informed
Related Health Tools:
Podcasts
- Hearing Loss and iPods Hearing Loss and iPods
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.