What is back pain?
Back pain is the pain that is felt in the back and is usually originated from bones, muscles, or nerves.
It can be spontaneous or may be chronic. It starts from the back region but it can radiate to many other regions such as arms or hips and gives a feeling of burning sensation. A lot of times numbness is felt in the arms or legs.
In fact, back pain is one of the most serious problems all over the world. 9 out of 10 people experience back pain that’s why it is a very common complaint throughout the world.
Due to this, the affected person is not able to do his work smoothly and efficiently. It’s not a very serious problem but can be very painful when it radiates to the arms and legs.
Causes of Back Pain
Problems with the spine such as survival or lumbar region can lead to back pain.
Damage to our back can result from strain, medical conditions, or poor posture. Some of the very prone causes of back pain are –
Strain
It can occur due to –
- Strained ligaments or muscles
- Muscle tension or spasm
- Damaged disks, injuries, or fractures
- Lifting something heavy or improperly
Structural problems
A lot of structural problems also result in back pain such as –
- Ruptured disks: Whenever the disk ruptures much more pressure on a nerve is experienced, resulting in back pain.
- Bulging disks: It results in a way much more pressure on the nerves.
- Arthritis: It is likely to cause problems in the joints such as the lower back, hips, and other places.
- Abnormal curvature of the spine: Back pain can be experienced if the spine curves in an unusual way. For example – scoliosis where the spine curves by making s shape character.
- Kidney problems: Kidney infection or kidney stones contribute to back pain.
Movement and posture
Back pain can be a result of everyday activities or poor posture. Examples include:
- Over-stretching or muscle tension
- Pushing, standing, sitting, pulling, lifting, or carrying something
- Straining the neck forward or a very long driving period
- Sleep disorder: People with sleep disorders experience back pain.
Symptoms of Back Pain
The main symptom of back pain is that it will pain everywhere in your back or sometimes all down your legs to your arms. Many times the pain can be cured without treatment but it’s necessary to check a doctor once in a while. Some of the very common symptoms of back pain are –
- Fever followed by weight loss
- Pain in the back while sitting or lying down
- Pain in the legs that reaches below your knees
- Difficulty in urinating
- Loss of control or movements
- Numbness around anus, buttocks, or genitals
Back Pain Diagnosis
A doctor will usually diagnose back pain by carrying out some of the most common physical examinations such as –
- X-rays: Shows the alignment of bones and detect broken bones or arthritis.
- MRI or CT scans: Reveal herniated disks or tissue problems, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and bones.
- Bone scans: Detect bone tumors or compression fractures.
Treatment for Back Pain
Back pain usually resolves at home by taking rest but sometimes medications are very necessary.
Home treatments
Applying a hot compressor or an ice pack to the painful area can help a lot in reducing the pain. Taking rest and moving with ease helps a lot in reducing pain.
Medical treatment
Medication: Codeine or hydrocodone are medicines that are prescribed for short periods by the recommendation of a doctor.
Physical therapy: Applying heat or ice helps in muscle-release techniques to the soft tissues which help in reducing pain.
Yoga: It involves poses, movements, and breathing exercises as it helps in strengthening back muscles and posture.
How to prevent back pain
Steps to reduce back pain consist of –
Exercise: Exercise helps in building strength and control your body weight. It boosts your heart health.
Diet: Diet should always include enough vitamins and minerals as these are needed for improving your bone health.
Smoking: A very large percentage of smokers have back pain.
Posture: Your posture also plays a very important role in determining your back pain if you have a good posture then you have very low chances of having back pain which can lead to a healthy lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. How to know if back pain is serious?
Ans. If you have a fever followed by sudden pain, weakness or numbness then your back pain can be serious.
Ques. What can be done to relieve my back pain?
Ans. The most common remedies to get relief from back pain are – Exercise, Use heat and cold, Stretch, Pain relief cream
Ques. What causes back pain in females?
Ans. Changes in a woman’s lifecycle, including pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal imbalances, weight gain are the events leading to back pain
Ques. How can we tell if our back pain is kidney-related?
Ans. Kidney pain is felt deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, Unlike back discomfort, it’s felt on one or both sides.
Ques. Is walking good for lower back pain?
Ans. People with ongoing lower back pain should consider the benefits of walking as a low-impact form of exercise.
Ques. How should we sleep with back pain?
Ans. Try sleeping with a pillow between your legs for extra support. If you sleep on your side, put the pillow between your knees and draw them up slightly toward your chest.