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Overview
The most common factor preventing people from working and leading normal lives is back pain. Back pain could have a variety of causes, so it’s best to consult a healthcare provider rather than attempting to diagnose it on their own. The patient could be suffering from a simple disease like a muscle strain or there could be an underlying problem like endometriosis or kidney stones.
Back pain is classified differently by healthcare providers. The classification is usually based on the location of the pain, whether it is in the upper, middle, or lower back, and if it is on the left side, center, or right side. In addition, healthcare providers may describe the pain as mild, moderate, or severe, and the type of pain could be a large, dull ache or a smaller, more intense stabbing pain.
The duration of the back pain is also used to classify it. A quick, brief, and often injury-related episode is referred to as acute back pain. On the other hand, any back pain that lasts for more than three to six months is considered chronic or persistent. If you experience any form of back pain, it is important to seek the advice of a healthcare provider to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
Most cases of back pain, especially in individuals under 60 years of age, can be prevented or alleviated with proper measures. In the event that prevention is unsuccessful, basic self-care techniques and correct body posture can often lead to a full recovery within a few weeks. Back pain treatment with surgery is uncommonly required.
Symptoms
Back pain might feel like a shooting, burning, or stabbing pain in the muscles. Moreover, the pain may travel down a leg. It can get worse with bending, twisting, lifting, standing, or walking.
Most back pain progressively gets better with self-care and at-home therapy. Consult a healthcare provider if the back pain lasts longer than a few weeks, is severe, and does not get better with rest; spreads down one or both legs especially if it goes below the knee, or results in weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs.
If you experience back pain that is accompanied by any of the following, it may indicate a serious medical condition and require urgent medical attention:
- New bowel or bladder problems
- Fever
- Follows a fall, blow to the back, or other injury.
Causes
Back pain is often associated with various underlying factors, including medical conditions and injuries. They can also develop without a discernible cause or abnormality that can be identified through diagnostic tests or imaging studies. Some conditions that are commonly associated with back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strain: Back muscles and spinal ligaments might get strained as a result of frequent heavy lifting or a sudden uncomfortable movement. Constant back strain might result in severe muscle spasms in those who are not in good physical shape.
- Ruptured or bulging disks: The discs between the spine’s bones serve as cushions. An internal disk’s soft substance may swell or burst, pressing a nerve in the process. Back discomfort might not always be caused by a damaged or bulging disk, though MRI, CT scans, and X-rays of the spine performed for another cause frequently reveal disk disease.
- Arthritis: The lower back may be impacted by osteoarthritis. Spinal stenosis, a disorder marked by a narrowing of the space surrounding the spinal cord, can occasionally result from arthritis in the spine.
- Osteoporosis: If the bones become brittle and thin, the spine’s vertebrae may suffer painful breakage.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: Some of the spine’s bones could merge as a result of this inflammatory condition. Spine flexibility is reduced as a result.
Risk factors
Even children and teenagers can develop back pain. These factors can increase the risk of developing back pain:
- Age: Beginning at the age of 30 or 40, back pain becomes more frequent.
- Lack of activities: Lack of exercise can cause back pain, weak back and abdominal muscles.
- Body weight: The back is under more strain when the body is overweight.
- Improper body mechanics: Back pain might result from using the back instead of the legs when lifting.
- Psychological conditions. Back pain appears to be more common among people who are prone to depression and anxiety. Back pain can be exacerbated by muscle tension brought on by stress.
- Smoking. Back pain among smokers is more common. Smoking may be the cause of this since coughing can result in herniated disks. Smoking also increases the risk of osteoporosis and reduces blood flow to the spine.
- Other diseases: Back pain can be worsened by certain cancers and forms of arthritis.
Diagnosis
The following procedures will help the healthcare provider will properly identify the cause and diagnose back pain.
- Physical examination: The healthcare provider will evaluate the patient’s back and assess their ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift their legs. They will also be asked to rate the pain they are experiencing on a scale of zero to 10 and inquire about how it affects their regular activities.
The assessment will help identify the cause of the pain, the amount of movement the patient can perform before stopping due to pain, and the presence of muscle spasms. It can also help in ruling out more serious causes of back pain.
- Imaging test:
- X-ray: Images of arthritis or fractured bones can be seen in the x-ray results. However, the spinal cord, muscles, nerves, or disk issues won’t be visible on these test.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans: Images produced by these scans may show herniated disks or issues with blood vessels, bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, or tendons and ligaments.
- Blood tests: They can help in figuring out whether pain might be brought on by an infection or another ailment.
- Electromyography (EMG): This test determines how the nerves’ electrical impulses affect the muscles’ responses. This examination can confirm pressure on the nerves brought on by herniated disks or spinal canal constriction.
Treatment
Most back pain sufferers, especially those under 60, see relief within a month of receiving home treatment. But for many people, the discomfort lasts for several months.
The reason for the back pain will determine how long it lasts. In cases where the pain is caused by an infection, completing a course of antibiotics may lead to its resolution. However, if the cause of the pain is spinal degeneration, ongoing treatment may be necessary for the remainder of a person’s life.
People with back pain are advised to maintain their activities as much as possible, including light exercises such as walking. They should avoid activities that exacerbate the pain but should not refrain from doing things out of fear of experiencing pain. If home remedies do not improve the condition after a few weeks, healthcare providers may recommend stronger medications or different treatments.
- Medications: The type of back pain will determine the appropriate medication. They might consist of:
- Topical pain relievers: These items provide painkillers through the skin, including creams, salves, ointments, and patches.
- Pain relievers: NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), may be of assistance. Just use these medications as prescribed. Serious side effects might result with overuse. The healthcare provider can advise prescription NSAIDs if over-the-counter painkillers are ineffective.
- Muscle relaxants: A muscle relaxant could be helpful if mild to moderate back pain does not get better after taking painkillers. Dizziness and sleepiness can be brought on by muscle relaxants.
- Narcotics: Healthcare provider will closely monitor the patient if prescribed by opioid-containing medications, like oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be taken for a brief period of time.
- Antidepressants: Chronic back pain has been demonstrated to be reduced by some antidepressant types, particularly duloxetine (Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline.
- Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach exercises aimed at improving posture, back and abdominal strength, and flexibility. Consistent practice of these methods can help prevent the reappearance of pain. Additionally, physical therapists will guide patients on modifying their movements during a backache episode to prevent the pain from worsening while engaging in physical activities.
- Surgical procedures: The following procedures will help treating back pain, which may include:
- Cortisone injections: An injection of cortisone and a numbing agent into the region surrounding the spinal cord and nerve roots may be helpful if other treatments are ineffective in relieving pain. An injection of cortisone helps in reducing inflammation near the nerve roots, but the pain alleviation often only lasts for a month or two.
- Radiofrequency ablation: A fine needle will be inserted through the skin close to the painful location. Radio waves are sent through the needle to harm the nearby nerves. Damage to the nerves prevents the brain from receiving pain signals.
- Nerve stimulators: Some nerves can receive electrical impulses from implants placed under the skin that suppress pain signals.
- Surgery: Surgery may be an option for individuals experiencing developing muscle weakness or leg pain, as it can help increase space in the spine. Herniated disks or other disorders that narrow spinal openings may also be responsible for such problems.
