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Verified By Apollo Doctors June 11, 2023
Back pain is a common health problem experienced worldwide from various demographics and lifestyle backgrounds. Currently, professionals across many industries suffer from this problem. However, low back pain is most common among software professionals, mainly because of the nature of their work, fitness-related issues, and lifestyle.
Back pain can be caused by activity, injury and some medical problems. It can affect people of any age, for various reasons. With age, the chances of developing lower back pain raise, due to factors including previous job and degenerative disk disease. Studies say that almost 90% of back pains do not require surgery. They get better on their own. However, you must seek medical help if you experience it.
There can be numerous causes. Some include poor lifestyle habits, and others include muscle strains, sports injuries, accidents, etc. The reasons for back pain may differ, but the symptoms are common to all.
Some of the common symptoms are:
Our back consists of a complex structure of bones, muscles, disks, tendons, and ligaments that work in tandem to support our body and enable us to move around. While there are many reasons back pain is mainly caused by, in some cases the cause of the back pain remains unclear.
Back pain is mainly caused by tension, disc surgery , strain or injury. In addition, our spine segments are cushioned with disks, cartilage-like pads. Problems with any of these components may cause back pain. Damage to the disk can result from medical conditions, strain including poor posture, among others. Problems with the spine such as osteoporosis can also lead to back pain.
A number of structural conditions may cause back pain including:
Some medical conditions may also lead to back pain:
Back pain is not a disease per se. It is a commonly identified symptom of various diseases. Issues with discs, nerves, ligaments, muscles, intervertebral discs or vertebrae themselves can cause severe back pain. Problems with kidneys may also contribute to this. So, anyone with medical conditions related to the above organs may experience back pain.
Back pain is a constant companion of most pregnant women and the reasons are myriad. Some of them are:
Some of the most common lifestyle habits and activities are:
Usually, the healthcare provider makes the diagnosis after conducting a physical examination of the patient along with studying the symptoms. But in some cases, other tests may be required to correctly determine the diagnosis. Some tests that are commonly done are:
X-rays: This imaging test can help the healthcare provider find broken or arthritic bones. The doctor can also check whether the alignment of bones is right.
CT or MRI scans: This imaging test helps to find out issues with muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves and tissues.
A chiropractor, an osteopath or a physiotherapist may also diagnose the cause of back pain using different methods. A chiropractor diagnoses through touch and visual inspection and focuses on adjusting the joints of the Spine. They may also ask for imaging or blood test result to confirm the case. An osteopath also diagnoses through visual inspection and palpation but they focus more on the mobilization and manipulation of joints and muscles. A physical therapist majorly works on the soft tissues and joints of the body.
Those mentioned above are some important yet simple lifestyle changes that you can consider. Try these routine changes and see which one works best for you. However, you must consult your doctor before the condition worsens. You should visit your doctor in any of the following cases:
Bringing lifestyle changes helps reduce the level of pain. But, if you are experiencing acute pain, lifestyle changes may not bring expected results.
Make an appointment soon. Depending on your needs, the doctor will suggest a quick test to identify the cause.
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You can avoid back pain and can also prevent its recurrence by practicing proper body mechanics and improving your physical condition. You can keep your back healthy and strong by the following actions:
You can start with abdominal and back muscle exercises that strengthen your core, help condition muscles so they can work together to strengthen your back. Your doctor or a physical therapist can tell you what exercises may work for you.
The way you hold your body is important for maintaining the right posture. Avoid slouching and focus on keeping a good posture while sitting or standing. Do not curve your body unnecessarily. Follow these tips to improve posture:
Most of the back pains are mechanical in origin, meaning repetitive stress to your back like awkward or static postures, prolonged sitting, bending forward, standing and carrying heavy loads are some of them that may lead to sprains to the lower back.
The lower back needs to be nurtured and stretched the most. Try some neck and shoulder stretches every few hours to avoid stiffening up. They are great for relieving tension.
Regular exercise provides strength to your back. Doing it consistently enables weight loss. You can also manage your stress level by exercising regularly. Make sure your routine exercises include stretching, balancing, and strengthening your back muscles.
Unhealthy habits might not seem like they affect your back, but that is not the case. As mentioned above, smoking increases back pain. The same goes for drinking alcohol. Smoking reduces blood flow to your bones and soft tissues, which causes severe back pain. Drinking alcohol in excess raises the levels of inflammation, which also increases pain. Curbing, or in the least moderating, these habits will go a long way in preventing many ailments, including back pain.
Staying fit is an important aspect of reducing back pain. Excess weight causes stress on the spine muscles. For this reason, practicing a healthy diet along with exercises can help in reducing stress on your back in the long run.
Deep massage therapy relaxes muscles, promotes circulation, and releases endorphins. Getting a massage at regular periods can help speed up your recovery from chronic back pain.
When you are under stress, your muscles may tighten and contract. Relax, take a deep breath, and try chanting to stay away from stress.
Sit upright in your office chair. Try and use the right posture while sitting and standing. Good posture keeps your back well supported, which is crucial to maintaining back health if you regularly sit for long hours.
Choose a chair with firm support for your lower back. Adopting a correct posture keeps your back pain-free.
Sleep for at least 6-7 hours daily to maintain good back health. Getting good sleep in a comfortable position reduces back pain and stiffness. Please make use of an orthopaedic mattress, as it provides much-needed support to the back.
While driving, carry a support pillow. Use lightweight bags for travel, so you do not have to strain your back while carrying them . Take breaks in between if you are travelling to a faraway destination. And do not forget to stretch now and then.
Taking pain relief or anti-inflammatory medication can help subside the pain. An icepack or a heat bag can be placed over the area of pain for relief. One can refrain from doing strenuous activities to avoid intensification of pain. But moving around is necessary to avoid the stiffness in joints and weakening of muscles. One should visit a doctor if the pain is not relieved with home treatments.
Medication: Take medications suggested by the healthcare provider if the pain is relieved by normal pain-relieving tablets. Muscle relaxants or anti-depressants may be prescribed if necessary.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy includes all the techniques that release the muscle to reduce pain. Some of the techniques are applying heat or ice, ultrasound or electric stimulation, strengthening exercises and posture-improving techniques. Sometimes, the doctor may ask the patient to continue the therapy even when the pain has subsided to avoid its recurrence.
Cortisone Injections: Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug which is injected into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord if the pain is not reduced with medication or therapies. It helps to reduce inflammation around the nerves or numbs the area that causes pain.
Botox: These are also injections that are helpful in paralyzing the sprained muscles. The sprained muscles in spasm will be paralyzed with this injection to relieve pain. This injection may work for around 3 to 4 months.
Traction: It is a method where pulleys or weights are used to help the back stretch and pushes the herniated disk back into its original position.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This method of treatment works on the thought process of the patient. The therapists encourage patients with chronic back pain to think in new ways and maintain a positive attitude. Many studies have proven that the patients who undergo this therapy have become more active and continue strengthening exercises to stop the recurrence of the pain.
Chiropractic care: Chiropractors are the ones who majorly focus on spine. They can also treat muscle, joint and bone problems.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment practice which inserts sterilized needles at specific pain points. This helps in the release of natural pain killers called endorphins, thus reducing back pain. It also helps in stimulating nerve and muscle tissue.
The upper back pain can be due to spine inflammation, tumors in the chest and disorders of the aorta. Such pain mainly occurs due to poor posture for a long time or an injury that affects the thoracic spine’s sturdiness.
Lower back pain may also be associated with the discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves, bony lumbar spine (lower spine), ligaments around discs and spine, lower back muscles, and the skin around the affected areas. In most cases, lower back pain gets better on its own in a couple of weeks. Painkillers and physiotherapy can help you manage the symptoms, mainly pain. Some people need surgery.
Surgery is conducted on patients with back pain in very rare cases. Surgery may be recommended if the patient has a herniated disk or suffers from persistent pain due to nerve compression. The healthcare provider may perform any of the following procedures:
Back pain is a condition which can happen to anyone irrespective of age and gender. But the following factors intensify the chances of it:
Either you suffer from back pain or not, avoid movements that may strain or twist your back. Use your body properly. Stand smart, sit smart, lift smart and keep your back straight. Also, change your position every half an hour to avoid or prevent recurrence of back pain.
All back pains need not be due to an underlying issue. It can be due to sprain, injury or fracture. Meet a healthcare provider and confirm the cause of the back pain if you are experiencing unbearable and intense pain.
A pillow can be used while sleeping to help you ease the pain. If you are sleeping on the sides, place a pillow in between the knees for support. If you are sleeping on the back, placing a pillow below the knees may provide extra support to the back.
Yes. Placing heat bags or applying heat over pain areas is a good therapy for relieving back pain.
STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and other infections including yeast infection, may cause intense back pains.
Commonly spinal infections are caused by bacterial or fungal infections around the spine area. It can happen due to infection after surgery, infection in the blood, or infection spreading from surrounding tissues.
Some of the most common causes include the following:
The main causes in women are:
The pain originating in your muscle is different from the pain in your spinal area. The symptoms of spine-related pain will likely include radiating pain, electric pain, pain when moving, or even in a resting position. The symptoms of muscle-related pain are muscle tightness and pain at movement or rest.
Acute back pain occurs as a result of injuries in the past, like an accident. Chronic pain is associated with underlying causes like arthritis or any other disease
Doctors generally prescribe pain relievers. However, it is recommended not to consume medicines without prior consultation.
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