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Back pain is a prominent cause of disability worldwide, and it is one of the most common reasons people visit the doctor or miss work.
Fortunately, you may take steps to prevent or alleviate the majority of back pain occurrences. If prevention fails, basic home treatment and appropriate body mechanics can frequently heal and keep your back functional in a matter of weeks. Back discomfort is rarely treated surgically.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BACK PAIN?
Medical doctors classify back pain in a variety of ways. Back pain can be classified according to its location: upper, middle, or lower back pain on the left, center, or right side. You can also describe distinct sorts of pain to your doctor. Is your discomfort minor, moderate, or severe? Is the discomfort a dull aching or a sudden stab? Back pain can also be classified based on how long it lasts. An acute episode is one that is sudden and brief, and is frequently associated with an injury. Your back pain is chronic/persistent if it has lasted longer than three to six months.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BACK PAIN?
Back pain can range from aching muscles to shooting, burning, or stabbing pain. Furthermore, the discomfort may extend down your leg or worsen as you bend, twist, lift, stand, or walk.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?
Most back pain improves gradually with at-home treatment and self-care, usually within a few weeks. Consult your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms of back pain:
- Lasts for a few weeks
- Is intense and does not get better with rest
- Spreads down one or both legs, particularly if the pain is below the knee
- Causes weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs
- Is associated with unexplained weight loss
Back discomfort might occasionally indicate a significant medical concern. Seek emergency medical attention if you are experiencing back pain that:
- Creates additional bowel or bladder issues
- Is associated with a fever
- Follows a fall, a hit to the back, or another type of damage
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BACK PAIN?
Back pain frequently develops without a clear cause that your doctor can pinpoint with a test or imaging examination. Back discomfort is frequently associated with the following conditions:
- Muscle or ligament strain: Back muscles and spinal ligaments can be strained by repeated heavy lifting or a sudden uncomfortable movement. Constant tension on your back might produce severe muscle spasms if you're in poor physical shape.
- Bulging or ruptured disks: Disks serve as cushions between your spine's bones (vertebrae). A disk's fragile substance can expand or rupture and press on a nerve. You can, however, have a bulging or ruptured disk without experiencing back discomfort. Disk disease is frequently discovered by chance when you receive spine X-rays for another cause.
- Arthritis: The lower back can be affected by osteoarthritis. In some circumstances, spinal arthritis can cause a narrowing of the area around the spinal cord, a condition known as spinal stenosis.
- Osteoporosis: If your bones become porous and fragile, the vertebrae in your spine can suffer severe fractures.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR BACK PAIN?
Back discomfort can affect anyone, including toddlers and teenagers. These variables may increase your chances of having back pain:
- Age: Back discomfort becomes more common as you get older, beginning around the age of 30 or 40.
- Lack of physical activity: Back discomfort might be caused by weak, underused muscles in your back and abdomen.
- Excess weight: Excess body weight places additional strain on your back.
- Psychological issues: People who suffer from depression and anxiety tend to be at a higher risk of back discomfort.
- Diseases: Back discomfort can be exacerbated by certain types of arthritis and cancer.
- Improper lifting: Back pain might result from using your back instead of your legs.
- Smoking: Back pain is more common in smokers. This could happen because smoking causes increased coughing, which can result in herniated disks. Cigarette smoking can also reduce blood flow to the spine, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
HOW IS BACK PAIN DIAGNOSED?
Your back will be examined, as well as your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift your legs. Your doctor may also ask you to rate your pain on a scale of zero to ten and discuss how well you're coping with pain.
These tests assist evaluate where the discomfort is coming from, how far you can travel before being forced to halt, and whether you have muscular spasms. They can also aid in the exclusion of more significant causes of back pain.
If your doctor suspects that a certain condition is causing your back discomfort, he or she may request one or more tests:
- X-ray: These photos show your bone alignment as well as whether you have arthritis or damaged bones. These pictures will not reveal any issues with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves, or disks.
- CT or MRI scans: These scans produce images that can detect herniated disks as well as issues with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels.
- Blood tests: These can aid in determining whether you have an infection or another illness causing your pain.
- Bone scan: A bone scan may be performed in rare circumstances to look for bone cancers or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis.
- Nerve studies: Electromyography (EMG) detects the electrical impulses produced by your nerves as well as the muscle responses. This test can confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or spinal canal constriction (spinal stenosis).
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR BACK PAIN?
The majority of back pain improves within a month of home treatment. Everyone is unique, and back pain is a complicated issue. Many people's discomfort does not go away for a few months, but just a handful experience chronic, severe pain.
Over-the-counter pain medications and the application of heat may be all you require. Bed rest is not advised.
Continue your activities to the extent that you are able. Try light exercise such as walking and regular chores. Stop any action that causes pain, but don't avoid it because you're afraid of it. If home remedies do not work after a few weeks, your doctor may recommend stronger drugs or alternative therapy.
Medications
Depending on the severity of your back pain, your doctor may recommend the following:
- OTC pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) may be used to treat back discomfort. Only use these medications as prescribed by your doctor. Overuse can have catastrophic consequences. If over-the-counter pain medicines do not relieve your discomfort, your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants: If over-the-counter pain medicines do not relieve mild to severe back pain, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants can cause dizziness and sleepiness.
- Topical pain relievers: These lotions, salves, ointments, and patches deliver pain-relieving ingredients through your skin.
- Narcotics: Opioid-containing medications, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be used for a limited duration under the supervision of your doctor. Because opioids do not function well for persistent pain, your prescription will normally only offer enough pills for one week.
- Antidepressants: Some antidepressants, particularly duloxetine (Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, have been demonstrated to treat persistent back pain without affecting depression.
Physical therapy
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to enhance your posture, increase your flexibility, and strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. The adoption of these procedures on a regular basis can help prevent discomfort from returning. Physical therapists will also educate you on how to alter your motions during a back pain episode to avoid flaring pain symptoms while remaining active.
Surgical and other procedures
Back pain treatment procedures may include:
- Cortisone injections: If previous treatments fail to ease your pain and it radiates down your leg, your doctor may inject cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory steroid, along with a numbing medication into the region around your spinal cord (epidural space). A cortisone injection can help reduce inflammation around the nerve roots, but the pain alleviation is usually just temporary.
- Radiofrequency neurotomy: In this process, a small needle is put through your skin and placed near the source of your pain. Radio waves are sent through the needle, damaging adjacent nerves and interfering with pain signal delivery to the brain.
- Implanted nerve stimulators: Implanted devices can give electrical impulses to specific nerves to inhibit pain signals.
- Surgery: If you experience unrelenting pain with radiating leg pain or gradual muscle weakening caused by nerve compression, surgery may be beneficial. These procedures are often reserved for pain caused by structural disorders, such as spinal stenosis or a herniated disk, that has not responded to conventional treatments.
Alternative medicine
A variety of alternative remedies may help to alleviate back pain symptoms. Before beginning a new alternative therapy, always explore the pros and dangers with your doctor.
- Chiropractic treatment: A chiropractor works on your spine to relieve pain.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture practitioners put small sterile needles into the skin at certain locations on the body. A growing body of scientific research suggests that acupuncture can help relieve back pain.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): An electrical impulse is delivered to the sore area via a battery-powered device placed on the skin. TENS efficacy studies have yielded conflicting outcomes.
- Massage: Massage may be beneficial if your back pain is caused by stiff or overused muscles.
- Yoga: Yoga is a comprehensive discipline that entails practicing certain postures or positions, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques. Yoga may stretch and strengthen muscles while also improving posture, though some positions may need to be modified if they exacerbate your symptoms.
HOW CAN BACK PAIN BE PREVENTED?
You can avoid or reduce the occurrence of back discomfort by improving your physical condition and learning and practicing good body mechanics.
To keep your back healthy and powerful, do the following:
- Exercise: Regular low-impact aerobic activities that do not strain or jolt your back will improve back strength and endurance while also allowing your muscles to operate better. Walking and swimming are both terrific options. Discuss which activities you might try with your doctor.
- Increase your muscle strength and flexibility: Abdominal and back muscle exercises assist train these muscles so that they act together like a natural corset for your back.
- Keep a healthy weight: Being overweight puts a strain on the back muscles. If you're overweight, losing weight can help you avoid back pain.
- Stop smoking: Smoking raises your chances of developing low back discomfort. Because the risk grows with the quantity of cigarettes smoked each day, stopping should help minimize it.
Avoid twisting or straining your back. Make proper use of your body:
- Stand smart: Avoid slouching. Keep your pelvis in a neutral position. If you must stand for an extended period of time, place one foot on a low footstool to relieve some of the strain on your lower back. Alternate your feet. Good posture might help to lessen the strain on the back muscles.
- Sit smart: Choose a seat with a swivel base, armrests, and decent lower back support. Maintaining the regular curve of your back can be accomplished by placing a cushion or rolled towel in the small of your back. Maintain a level posture with your knees and hips. Alter your position at least once every half-hour.
- Lift with caution: If possible, avoid heavy lifting; but, if you must lift something heavy, let your legs do the work. Maintain a straight back (no twisting) and just bend at the knees. Keep the weight close to your body. If the object is heavy or uncomfortable, find a lifting partner.
Take caution when purchasing
Because back discomfort is so common, several items claim to provide prevention or relief. However, there is no conclusive evidence that customized shoes, shoe inserts, back supports, specifically designed furniture, or stress management programs can be beneficial.
Furthermore, there does not appear to be a single type of mattress that is optimal for persons suffering from back discomfort. It's most likely an issue of personal preference.