"Back Pain" is a general term used to describe any pain felt at any area of the human back. The pain may come from muscles, nerves, bones, or joints on the human back. The pain may be short-term or it may be constant. It may stay at one place or may radiate to other parts of the back. It may be somewhere at the back of the neck all the way down to the lower back area. Back pains are common, and most adults have experienced it some time in their lives. In fact, back pains are the fifth most common complaint that Americans tell their doctors.
Causes of Back Pains
One of the most common causes of back pains is muscles strain. This happens when activities such as carrying heavy loads over long periods of time force the muscles of the back to exert more effort than it can handle just to support the body. Another cause of back pains is trauma. Spine Health also has more information on back pains and diagnosis.
When back pains refuse to subside after a few months, some of the causes of the pain may include disc prolapse (slipped disc) and degenerative disc diseases. For adults above 50, back pains may be caused by osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis.
Treatment for Back Pain
Most people treat back pains with over-the-counter painkillers and muscle-relaxants to simply soothe the pain that they feel on their back. For extreme cases, surgery may be needed. Surgeries may vary, depending on the cause of the pain. If, for example, degenerative disc disease is the cause of the pain, artificial disc replacement may be done. There can be many treatments for back pain, but without a physical exam and/or x-rays, a quick diagnosis is less than common.
It is important to note that, if back pains persist for a period of more than one month even if you are doing steps to reduce the strain on it, or if painkillers no longer work, it is important to seek medical attention to find the cause to be able to correct it.
Back Pain Prevention
It is important for those who do not experience back pains to take steps to prevent it nonetheless, because the steps in preventing back pains cost less than the therapy needed to remove it.
- Keep your weight down. Excess weight, especially in the abdomen, pulls on the back and adds stress.
- Maintain a good and proper posture, so that your body and spine will not exert an additional amount of effort just to support your body due to an improper posture.
- Having a good mattress can help prevent back pains drastically.
- Make sure that your workplace is comfortable, because one of the most common reasons for back pains is a poorly-designed chair at work.
Back Pains or Something Else?
Although most cases of back pains are short-term and may be simply ignored, if the problem persists, you must check with a doctor immediately because it may be an early warning for a more serious problem. Back pains may be a prelude to other problems of the body, such as bladder and bowel movement problems. Severe fevers accompanied with constant back pains may be symptoms for diseases such as cancer. Constant back pains that are caused by trauma, such as a fall or an accident that happened long ago may indicate fractures and should be checked immediately.
