Journal of Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacoproteomics

Subjective & objective screening tools are integral part of pain classification & management: A case study of jute mill workers, India

2^nd International Conference on Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine & Molecular Diagnostics

November 03-05, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Subhanu Sekhar Roy Chowdhury and Alak Kumar Syamal

Posters: J Pharmacogenomics Pharmacoproteomics

Abstract:

Work related musculoskeletal disorders are a common cause of pain in Jute Mill workers in Jute Mills involved in batching, weaving and stacking process. This study aimed to categorize the component of neuropathic and/or nociceptive pain with reference to chronic low back pain, its probable causes and its impact on functional variables like hand grip strength, number of man days lost etc. Male subjects [n=670] in the age range of 25-45 years from different brick fields of Hooghly and North 24 Parganas of West Bengal, India with a work experience of more than 10 years participated in this study. Our results indicated pain/discomfort was mainly at the low back (45%), neck (33%) and wrist (12%). 14% of workers had a pain of >20 in the pain scale of the pain detect tool & 17% of workers were not satisfied with treatments with analgesics/antipyretics which indicate the involvement of neuropathic component of pain in them. The impact of pain was revealed on functional & productivity endpoints like reduced grip strength which also lead to absenteeism, loss of average man days [2.5/month], injuries [13% of workers] and monotony [65% workers]. The probable cause of the chronic low back pain may be due to radiculopathy from repetitive lifting of bricks over and above the Recommended Weight Limit [Lifting Index 1.8].