Have you been making frequent trips to the doctor’s clinic due to pain in the lower back region? If yes, we understand how taxing the whole process can be. That is why
We are here to help you with tips to effectively deal with back pain.
This pain type is known to be the most common cause of job-related disability. In addition, plenty of Americans are diagnosed with low back pain issues every year.
But why does it happen?
Injury is known to be one of the most common causes of low back pain. The damage may cause strain or muscle sprain, which triggers the pain.
Sometimes, low back pain is associated with medical conditions like:
- Disc herniation.
- Spinal cord cancer.
- Arthritis.
- Sciatica.
Low back pain is commonly seen in individuals between the age group of 30 to 50. It is most likely due to age-related changes that occur in the body. For example, the fluid contact between the spinal vertebrae decreases with age, which increases the irritation the spine will experience.
But this is not it. We have shared detailed information about low back pain in this article.
Let’s start with the causes.
Causes for Low Back Pain
Strain
It is caused by stretching and tearing the ligaments and muscles in the back due to excess activity. As a result, if you have back pain, you may experience stiffness and pain in the low back and muscle cramps.
Remedies include rest and physical therapy.
Disc Injury
The chance of disc injury increases with age. This is because the disc can get herniated or can tear. A herniated disc occurs when the disc’s cartilage pushes the nerve roots or spinal cord. Disc injury usually occurs after twisting the back or lifting something heavy. Pain from disc injury will last for around 72 hours.
Those mentioned above are the most common causes of low back pain.
Some other causes for back pain include:
- Sciatica.
- Spinal stenosis.
- Abnormal spinal curvature.
- Arthritis.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Bladder and kidney-related problems like endometriosis, ovarian cyst, and cancer.
Diagnosis of Low Back Pain
The diagnosis of low back pain starts with a physical exam performed by your doctor. They will check your response to certain sensations and check your reflexes, which will help determine if the pain is due to any nerve.
If no significant benefits are noted by home treatment, then your doctor may order further tests like X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound to check for:
- Bone problems.
- Disc problems.
- Other issues in the tendon and ligaments in the back.
If needed, your doctor may order a bone density test.
Treatment for Low Back Pain
Home Care
Self-care is helpful for the initial 72 hours after the injury. However, if no improvement is noted in that time, you should visit a doctor.
Your doctor may advise you to apply ice or heat on your back. You can follow the RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
Taking OTC medications like Advil, Motrin, and Tylenol can help in relieving the pain.
You should avoid doing the daily activities and take proper rest.
Medical Treatment
The medical treatment for back pain includes medications, using medical appliances, and doing physical therapy.
Your doctor may prescribe medications including:
- Muscle relaxants.
- Narcotic drugs.
- Steroids.
- NSAIDs
- Corticosteroid injections.
Physical therapy may include:
- Stretching.
- Massage.
- Spine and back manipulation.
- Strengthening exercises.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary in severe cases. It is the last option for treatment if you do not have benefits with any other management options.
Depending on the type of injury, the different surgical options include:
- Discectomy.
- Foraminotomy.
- Intradiscal electrothermal therapy.
- Nucleoplasty.
- Radiofrequency ablation.
- Spinal fusion.
Final Word
Low back pain & knee pain is one of the most common problems noticed in adults of late. The problems have increased more due to the current work-from-home situation that encourages a wrong posture along with a sedentary lifestyle.
If you start experiencing back pain, please do not wait and escalate the pain. Rather, consider getting in touch with specialists like pain management. They have proven techniques to help you with your back pain issues.
What do you think about this article? Let us know in the comments!
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