Back Pain – CCHRC

Back pain happens to people of all ages and can be caused by many different reasons, including muscle strain, poor posture, a ruptured disk, or arthritis. Back pain can also be a symptom of other conditions such as:

Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
Pregnancy
Kidney stones
Endometriosis (lining of the uterus growing outside the uterus)
Fibromyalgia (a chronic pain disorder)
Infections
Tumors
Stress

Depending on the cause of your back pain, symptoms may vary. Some common symptoms are:

Muscle pain
Sudden, intense, shooting pain in back
Leg pain
Limited mobility/flexibility

Most of the time, back pain improves with rest and pain relief medication. However, you should see your health care provider if you have back pain accompanied with:

Numbness/tingling in the legs
Bladder/bowel problems
Weight loss
Fever
Pain that doesn’t go away after rest

Your doctor may have to do other tests, such as an x-ray, MRI, CT scan, or blood test to diagnose the problem.

Treatment for Back Pain

Prolonged bed rest is not recommended because it can stiffen your back muscles, put pressure on the injury, and increase pain, resulting in a longer recovery time. Instead, you should do light exercise, and continue your normal, everyday activities. If doing your normal routine causes pain, slow down and take a break. You can also try using over-the-counter (non-prescription) pain relief pills, ointments or creams; hot or cold packs.

Your health care provider may prescribe muscle relaxants, opioids or cortisone injections if your pain is severe.

Physical therapy can also help in the recovery from and prevention of back pain. You will learn about stretching and strengthening the abdominal/back muscles to give more support to the back, managing pain to speed up recovery time, as well as proper body mechanics to avoid future injuries.

Other Treatments:

Spinal Manipulation or Massage
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Acupuncture or Acupressure
Surgery (to treat ruptured, slipped or damaged disks, narrowing of the spine, slipped or fractured vertebrae)

Prevention of Back Pain

Exercise regularly (to strengthen the abdominal/back muscles, improve flexibility)
Lose extra weight
Maintain good standing and sitting posture
Keep your back straight when lifting objects
Use your legs to push rather than pull when moving objects
Wear flat shoes
Have proper back support when driving
Choose a mattress with good support

Reference:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/basics/definition/con-20020797

https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/back_pain/back_pain_ff.asp#d

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