What is Back Pain?

Do you know that back pain is one of the most common reasons why people go to the doctor?

Back pain is very common and is a leading cause of disability worldwide.

It can occur due to a number of factors.

These can be an injury, activity, and some medical conditions.

Moreover, it can affect anyone of any age, for varying reasons.

As you get old, your chances of developing lower back pain increase, due to factors like previous occupation and degenerative disk disease.

However, you can take certain steps to prevent or even relieve the episodes of back pain.

If you prevent fails, then with the help of simple home treatments and proper body mechanics, you can heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional.

But you may need surgery to treat back pain, which is very rare.

Keep on reading to learn more about it.

Causes of Back Pain

Your body is composed of complex structures of muscles, ligaments, tendons, disks, and bone.

These all work together to support your body and enable you to move around.

The segments of your spine are cushioned with cartilage-like disks.

Problems with any of these components can lead to back pain.

Moreover, in some cases, the causes of back pain can remain unclear.

Damage can result from strain, medical conditions, and poor posture among other.

Let’s discuss them as follows:

Strain

One of the important things to note is that back pain often stems from strain, tension, or injury.

Frequent causes of back pain are:

• strained muscles or ligaments
• a muscle spasm
• muscle tension
• damaged disks
• injuries, fractures, or falls.

Moreover, some activities that can lead to strains or spasms are:

Lifting something improperly, lifting something that is too heavy, or making an abrupt and awkward movement.

Structural Problems

A number of structural problems that can also result in back pain are:

Ruptured Disks: Each vertebra in your spine is cushioned by disks.

However, if the disk rupture there will be more pressure on a nerve. This results in back pain.

Bulging Disks: Just like ruptured disks, a bulging disk can also result in more pressure on a nerve.

Sciatica: It is a sharp and shooting pain that travels through the buttock down the back of your leg.

This occurs by a bulging or herniated disk pressing on a nerve.

Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause problems with your joints in the hips, lower back, and other places.

In some cases, however, the space around the spinal cord narrows and is spinal stenosis.

Abnormal Curvature of the Spine: If your spine curves in an unusual way, back pain can occur.

An example is a scoliosis, in which your spine tends to curve to the side.

Osteoporosis: Bones, including your vertebrae of the spine, can become brittle and porous which makes compression fractures more likely.

Kidney Problems: In some cases, kidney stones or kidney infections can cause back pain.

Movement and Posture

When adopting a very hunched sitting position while using computers can result in an increase in back and shoulder problems over time.

Back pain can also result in some everyday activities or poor posture.

Some examples are:

• twisting
• coughing or sneezing
• muscle tension
• overstretching
• bending awkwardly or for long periods of time
• pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying something

Moreover, standing or sitting for long periods, straining the neck forward, like when your drive to use a computer can cause back pain.

Additionally, long driving sessions without a break, even when not hunched, and sleeping on a mattress that does not support your body and keep the spine straight can cause back pain.

Other Causes of Back pain

Some of the other medical conditions that can lead to back pain are:

Cauda equine syndrome: This condition is a bundle of spinal nerve roots that arise from the lower end of the spinal cord.

Some of the symptoms are:

• dull pain in the lower back pain and upper buttocks
• numbness in the buttons, genitalia, and thigs

Moreover, there are in some cases, bowel, and bladder function disturbances.

Cancer of the Spine: A tumor on the spine may press against a nerve, resulting in back pain.

Infection of the Spine: A fever and a tender, warm area on the back can be due to an infection of the spine.

Other Infections: Pelvic inflammatory diseases, bladder, or kidney infections can also lead to back pain.

Sleep Disorders: If you have sleep disorders, then you are more likely to experience back pain, in comparison to others.

Shingles: An infection that can affect your nerve can lead to back pain and depends on which nerves are affected.

Risk Factors

The following are some of the factors that are linked to a higher risk of developing back pain:

• Occupational activites
• pregnancy
• a secondary lifestyle
• poor physical fitness
•  old area
• obesity and excess weight

Moreover, smoking, strenuous physical exercise of work, especially if you perform it incorrectly, genetic factors, and medical conditions like arthritis can also be risk factors.

It is important to note that lower back pain is more common in women than in men.

This is due to hormonal factors.

Furthermore, stress, anxiety, and mood disorders are also linked to back pain.

Symptoms of Back Pain

The main symptom of back pain is ache or pain anywhere in your back.

And in some cases, it can occur all the way down to the buttocks and legs.

Some back issues can cause pain in order parts of your body as well.

This depends on the nerves affected.

The pain tends to go away without treatment often.

However, if it occurs with any of the following, you should seek medical advice or soo your doctor:

Weight loss, fever, inflammation or swelling on the back, and persistent back pain when lying down or resting does not help.

Moreover, pain down the legs, pain that reaches below the knees, a recent injury, blow or trauma to the back, urinary incontinence, and difficulty urinating can be the symptoms.

Some other signs and symptoms of back pain are:

• fecal incontinence, or loss of control over bowel movements
• numbness around the genitals, anus, and the buttocks

When to See a Doctor?

You should seek medical help or visit your doctor if you experience any numbness or tingling.

Or if you have back pain that does not improve with rest, after an injury, numbness in the legs, weakness, fever, and unexplained weight loss.

Diagnosing Back Pain

Your doctor is often able to diagnose back pain after asking about the symptoms and carrying out a physical exam.

With the help of an image scan and other tests, they can help if your back pain appears to result from an injury, an underlying cause that needs treatment, or pain that persists over a long period.

Moreover, an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan can also give information about the state of soft tissues in the back.

X-rays can help show the alignment of our bones and detect any signs of arthritis or broken bones.

However, they may not be able to reveal damage to the muscles, spinal cord, nerves, or disks.

MRI or CT scan can show herniated disks or problems with tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments, blood, vessels, muscles, and bone.

Bone Scans can help detect bone tumors or compression fractures that occur due to osteoporosis.

Moreover, your doctor will inject a radioactive substance or tracer into a vein.

These traces collects in the bones and helps your doctor detect bone problems with the aid of a special camera.

Electromyography, EMG helps to measure the electrical impulses that nerves produce in response to the muscles.

This can help confirm nerve compression which may occur with a herniated disk or spinal stenosis.

However, your doctor can also order a blood test if they suspect an infection.

Other Types of Diagnosis

Some other types of diagnosis are:

A Chiropractor: It can help diagnose through touch or palpitation and a visual examination.

Chiropractic is known as a direct approach with a strong focus on adjusting the spinal joints.

Moreover, a chiropractor may also want to see the results of image scans and any blood and urine tests.

Osteopaths: They can help diagnose through palpation and visual inspection.

Osteopathy involves slow and rhythmic stretching, mobilization, pressure or indirect techniques, and manipulation of joints and muscles.

Physical Therapist: Can focus n diagnosing problems in the joints and soft tissues of the body.

Chronic or Acute Pain?

One of the important things to note is that back pain is characterized by two types:

Acute pain starts suddenly and tends to last for up to 6 weeks.

On the other hand, chronic or long-term pain tends to develop over a longer 3 months and also causes ongoing problems.

Treatment Options

Back pain often resolves with rest and home remedies.

However, in some cases, you may need medical treatment.

Let’s discuss them as follows:

Home Treatments

Over-the-counter, OTC pain relief medications, usually nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and NSAIDs like iburophen can help relieve discomfort.

Applying a hot compress or an ice pack to the painful area can also help reduce pain.

Moreover, resting from strenuous activity can help, however, moving around will help ease stiffness, reduce pain, and prevent muscles from weakening.

Medical Treatment

In case your back pain does not respond well to OTC painkillers, your doctor may prescribe a prescription NSAID.

Your doctor may prescribe codeine or hydrocodone for a short period of time.

These are narcotics, however, require close monitoring by the doctor.

In some cases, you may need to use muscle relaxants.

Antidepressants like amitriptyline can also help, however, research is ongoing as to their effectiveness and the evidence is conflicting.

Physical Therapy

Applying heat, ice, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation, as well as muscle-release techniques to the back muscles and soft tissues, can help alleviate pain.

As the pain improves, your physical therapist may introduce some flexibility and strength exercises for the back and abdominal muscles.

Moreover, techniques for improving posture may also help.

Your doctor will encourage you to practice the techniques regularly, even after the pain resolves, to prevent back pain recurrence.

Other Treatment Options

Some other treatment options are:

Cortisone Injections

In case rather options are not effective, your doctor may inject these into the epidural space around the spinal cord.

Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug.

Moreover, it helps to reduce inflammation around the nerve roots and can help numb areas that may be causing pain.

Botox

Botox or botulism toxin can help reduce pain by paralyzing sprained muscles according to the studies.

These injections are effective for about 3 to 4 months.

Traction

Pulleys and weights to stretch the back may help that can result in a herniated disk by moving back into the position.

Moreover, it can also help relieve pain, however, only while you apply traction.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT

CBT can help manage chronic back pain by encouraging new ways of thinking.

It can include relaxation techniques and ways of maintaining a positive attitude.

Studies indicate that patients with CBT tend to become more active and do exercise, thus resulting in a lower risk of back pain recurrence.

Complementary Therapies

Complementary therapies can help along with conventional therapies or on their own.

Chiropractic, osteopathy, shiatsu, and acupuncture can help relieve back pain, as well as encourage the patient to feel relaxed.

An osteopath can help as they specialize in treating the skeleton and muscles.

A chiropractor treats joints, muscles, and bone problems while the main focus is the spine.

Shiatsu or finger pressure therapy is a type of massage where the practitioner applies pressure along the energy line on your boy.

The shiatsu therapist applies pressure with their fingers, thumbs, and elbows.

Acupuncture originates from China and consists of inserting fine needles and specific points in your body.

Moreover, acupuncture can help the body release its natural painkillers, like endorphins, as well as stimulate nerve and muscle tissue.

Yoga involves specific poses, movements, and breathing exercises.

Some can help to strengthen back muscles and improve posture.

However, you should be careful so that these exercises do not make the pain worse.

It is important to note that complementary therapies have mixed results.

Some people experience significant benefits, while others may not.

Therefore, it is important when considering alternative therapies to use a well-qualified and registered therapist.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS

It is a popular therapy if you have chronic back pain.

The TENS machine delivers small electric pulses into the body through electrodes that your doctor will place on the skin.

Experts are of the view that TENS encourages your body to produce endorphins and can help block pain signals returning to the brain.

However, studies on TENS have provided mixed results.

Some revealed no benefits, while others indicate that it can be more helpful for some people.

Make sure to use a TENS machine under the direction of a doctor or health professional.

It should not be used by someone who is:

• pregnant
• has a history of epilepsy
• a pacemaker
• history of heart disease

TENS is considered “safe, noninvasive, inexpensive, and patient-friendly” and helps to reduce pain.

However, more evidence is required to confirm its effectiveness in improving activity levels.

Surgery for Back Pain

Surgery for back pain is very rare, however, if you have herniated disk then surgery may be an option.

Especially, if there is persistent pain and nerve compression it can lead to muscle weakness.

Examples of surgical procedures are:

Fusion: Two vertebrae are joined together with a bone grafting inserted between them.

Your doctor will splint together vertebrae with metal plates, screws, or cages.

There is, however, a significantly greater risk for arthritis to subsequently develop in the adjoining vertebrae.

Artificial Disk: When your surgeon inserts an artificial disk, it will replace the cushion between two vertebrae.

Diskectomy: During this, your surgeon will remove a portion of a disk if it is irritating or pressing against a nerve.

Partially removing a Vertebra: This procedure involves removing a small section of a vertebra if it is pinching the spinal cord or nerves.

Injecting Cells to regenerate Spine Discs: Scientists from Duke University, North Caroline developed new biochemicals that can deliver a booster shot of reparative cells to the nucleus pulposus.

This effectively helps to eliminate pain that occurs due to degenerative disc disease.

Prevention Tips

You can take certain steps to lower the risk of developing back pain. These consist mainly of addressing some of the risk factors as well.

Let’s discuss them as follows:

Exercise

Regular exercise helps you to build strength and control body weight.

Guided, low-impact aerobic activities can help boost heart health without straining or jerking the back.

However, before starting any exercises, talk to a health care professional.

There are two main types of exercises you can do to reduce the risk of back pain:

• core strengthening exercises that work your abdominal and back muscles, help to strengthen muscles that protect the back.
• flexibility training aims to improve core flexibility, including spine, hips, and upper legs

Diet

Make sure that your diet has enough calcium and vitamin D as this helps bone health.

A healthful diet also helps to control body weight.

Smoking

A significantly higher percentage of smokers suffer from back pain in comparison to non-smokers of the same age, height, and weight.

Body Weight

The weight you carry and where you carry affect the risk of developing back pain.

However, the difference in back pain risk between obese and normal-weight individuals is considerable.

If you carry your weight in the abdominal area versus the buttocks and hip area, you are also at a greater risk.

Posture while Standing

Make sure you have a neutral pelvic position.

Stand upright, head facing forward, back straight, and balance your weight evenly on both feet.

Moreover, keep your legs straight and your head in line with your spine.

Other Prevention Tips

Some other factors to consider are:

Posture while sitting

A good eat for working should support your back, arms, and a have a swivel bass.

While sitting, try to keep your knees and hips level and keep your feet flat on the floor, or use a footstool.

Moreover, you should ideally be able to sit upright with support in the small of your back.

However, if you are using a keyword, make sure your elbows are at right angles and that your forearms are horizontal.

Lifting

When lifting things, use your legs to do the lifting, rather than your back.

Make sure to keep your back as straight as you can, keeping your feet apart with one leg slightly forward so you can maintain balance.

Bend only at the knees, hold the weight close to your body, and straighten the legs while changing the position f your back as little as possible.

YOu may find bending your back initially unavoidable.

However, when you bend your back, try not to stoop, and be sure to tighten your stomach muscles so that your pelvis is pulled.

More importantly, do not straighten your legs before lifting or you will be using your back.

Avoid Lifting and Twisting at the same time

In case, something is particularly heavy, see if you lift it with someone.

While doing so, keep looking straight, not up or down, so that your back is like a continuous straight line from your spine.

Moving Things

It is better for your back to push things across the floor, using your leg strength, rather than pulling them.

Shoes

Make sure to have flat shoes as they place less strain on the back.

Driving

Have proper support for your back while driving.

Having wing mirrors properly positioned so that you do not need to twist can help.

Moreover, the pedals should be squarely in front of your feet, and if you are on a long journey, have plenty of breaks.

Bed

You should have a mattress that helps to keep your spine straight.

While at the same time it supports the weight of your shoulders and buttocks.

Use a pillow, however, not the one that forces your neck into a steep angle.

Final Thoughts

Back pain is a common ailment and the older you get, the more likely you are to experience it. Majority of the Americans will cope with back pain at some point in their life. However, for some, it can also become chronic.

With treatment, most episodes of back pain will resolve on their own. Occasionally, you may need help from your doctor in the form of prescription medications or injections. While surgery may be an option in rare cases.

If you want to avoid another bout with it, you can take steps to prevent back pain. Stretching daily, yoga, and strength training can help make your back and core muscles stronger and more resilient.