Back Pain - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Back pain in the lower back or low back pain is a common concern, affecting up to 90% of Americans at some point in their lifetime. Low back pain is very common, costing millions in lost work, as well as millions in medical, state and insurance resources every year. Most back pain does not signify any serious underlying problem, and will sort its self out within a few days to a few weeks. Simple low back pain means that the pain is not due to any underlying disease that can be found. In some cases the cause may be a sprain (an over-stretch) of a ligament or muscle

Pain low in the back can sometimes stem from problems not related to the back. For example, severe, increasing back pain, just under the ribs and on one side only, may be due to kidney disease. The back is a well-designed structure made up of bone, muscles, nerves and other soft tissues. The back can be particularly vulnerable to injury and back pain can be disabling. The pain may be felt in the neck . The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.

Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis The pain may be constant or intermittent, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. But far more common is the kind of low back pain that may be triggered by a fall, blow, heavy lifting, shoveling snow, changing a tire, other strenuous exertion, and even, on occasion, by something as simple as bending over to tie a shoelace or sitting for a prolonged period at a meeting. Whatever the trigger, the pain is usually severe, with difficulty in walking and standing. Acutc back pain often can be relieved by home measures jf they are used properly.

Causes of Back Pain

Common causes are as follows:

• pain is thought by some to be caused by tension myositis syndrome , a mindbody disorder .
• The main cause for low back pain is a strain of the muscles, or other soft structures connected to the back bones (vertebrae).
• Injured varies from person to person,
• pain caused by types of arthritis may be treated by various anti-arthritis medicines.
• Lumbar Muscle Strain - Patients may or may not remember the initial event that triggered their muscle spasm, but the good news is that most episodes of back pain from muscle strains resolve completely within a few weeks.
• Spinal Stenosis - the spinal canal can become constricted, due in part to arthritis and other conditions.
• Spondylolisthesis - The most common cause of spondylolisthesis is due to degenerative changes causing loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column

Symptom of Back Pain

Sign and Symptoms of Back pain are :

• Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight.
• Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.
• The pain may be worse on bending and is often worse sitting, especially in an easy chair.
• Coughing or sneezing can often make the pain much worse. The muscles of the back may go into painful spasm.
• Back pain may be combined with pain into the leg, travelling down below the knee, this is otherwise known as sciatica , because the main nerve to the leg is being irritated by pressure on it.
• Weight loss, fever, or if you feel generally unwell.
• Recent history of violent trauma or injury to the back.
• You have or have had a cancer of any part of the body

Treatment of Back Pain

Effective Treatment methods to treat Back pain are :

• Simple home treatment and proper body mechanics will often heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul.
• Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.
• Treatment involves using over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce discomfort and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation .
• Medications are often used to treat acute and chronic back pain .
• Cold Compression Therapy is useful for a strained back or chronic back pain as it reduces pain and inflammation, especially after strenuous exercise such as golf, gardening, or lifting.
• Heat Therapy is useful for back spasms in conjunction with a pain reliever or muscle relaxment usually prescribed by an MD.
• stretching and exercise is believed to be an essential component of most back treatment programs
• Stay active , and if at all possible, stay at work..
• Use simple pain killers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if necessary.
• The most frustrating aspect in treatment of back pain is that there is no "magic bullet." Most individuals recover completely by simply avoiding strain to their spine