Back Pain

Non-specific term used to describe pain below the cervical spine

Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints and does not usually reflect any underlying disease. However, anyone with back pain that does not improve after a few days should first consult a Physician, as back pain can sometimes indicate significant and serious conditions which might not otherwise be diagnosed. Back pain is very rarely a sign of a serious medical problem. It is however important that the treatable medical causes are identified early.

Causes

There are different causes of different types of back pain which can be enlisted below. They are as follows:

1) Simple pain at the back include:

• poor posture,


• lack of exercise,


• standing or bending down for long periods,


• sitting in a chair that doesn't provide enough back support,


• sleeping on a mattress that doesn't provide enough back support,


• lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are simply too heavy, or going about these tasks in the wrong way,

2) Nerve root pain

Nerve root pain is the cause in less than 5% of people. The pain is caused by compression of a nerve root, which is the start of a nerve as it leaves the spinal cord. It is usually caused when a vertebral disc becomes displaced or bulges out from its normal position, putting pressure on the nerve root. This is called a slipped disc.

3) More serious problems

In a relatively small number of cases, pain may have a more serious underlying cause. This includes abnormality of the spine, an infection or a collapse of the vertebrae, fibromyalgia (a condition that affects the muscles), tuberculosis or cancer.

When is the real time to consult a doctor?

Anyone with the following symptoms in addition to back pain should see a doctor as soon as possible:

• fever,


• redness or swelling on the back,


• pain down the legs and below the knees,


• numbness or weakness in one or both legs,


• loss of bladder or bowel control.

Treatment

Stay active
Research shows that bed rest does not help simple pain at the back - it's much better to return to normal physical activity as soon as possible. Staying active may hurt more at first, but it helps the back to heal quickly, and reduces the risk of the problem occurring again

Painkillers
Paracetamol or ibuprofen are usually enough to relieve simple back pain. Prescription-only muscle relaxants such as diazepam may help with muscle spasms, but they generally shouldn't be taken for more than a week as they can cause dependence

Manipulation and exercise
Osteopathy and chiropractic are treatments involving manipulation of the spine. They may provide short-term relief for simple back pain within the first six weeks. Back exercises and physiotherapy may be helpful if the pain lasts longer.

Surgery
If chronic pain isn't helped by manipulation, exercises or medication, then surgery may solve or help the problem. If the pain is caused by a damaged disc, for instance, this could be surgically removed.