Back pain is one of the leading causes for individuals to seek medical attention or miss work. Back pain is one of the prevalent causes of disability throughout the globe.
Fortunately, most episodes of back pain can be prevented or alleviated, particularly in individuals under the age of 60. If prevention fails, a few weeks of straightforward home treatment and accurate use of the body will heal the back. Surgery is rarely required to alleviate back discomfort.
Symptoms
Back pain can range from throbbing to shooting, searing, or stabbing. Additionally, the discomfort can travel down a limb. Bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking can make it worse.
The majority of back discomfort improves progressively with home treatment and self-care, generally within a few weeks. Consult your physician if you experience back pain that:
- Exceeds a few weeks.
- Is severe and unresponsive to rest.
- Spreads down one or both legs, particularly below the knee.
- Causes weakness, tingling, or paralysis in one or both legs.
- It is accompanied by unexplained weight loss.
Rarely, back pain may indicate a critical medical condition. Seek emergency treatment for back pain that:
- Causes new bowel or urinary problems.
- Associated with a fever.
- Occurs after a fall, back strike, or other injury.
Diagnosis
Your physician will examine your back and evaluate your ability to recline, stand, walk, and raise your legs. Your healthcare provider may also ask you to evaluate your pain on a scale from zero to ten and discuss how your pain influences your daily activities.
These evaluations help determine the source of the pain, the presence of muscle spasms and the extent of your mobility before the pain forces you to stop. They can also assist in excluding more significant causes of back discomfort.
One or more of the following procedures may help determine the source of the back pain:
- X-ray.
- CT or MRI imaging.
- Blood exams.
- Nerve studies.
Treatment
Most back discomfort improves within a month with home treatment, particularly in individuals younger than 60. For many, however, the agony can last for months.
Pain relievers and applying heat may be sufficient treatment for back pain. Bed rest is not advised.
Continue as many activities as possible despite back discomfort. Try light exercises like strolling. Stop engaging in activities that exacerbate pain, but don’t avoid activities out of dread. If home remedies are ineffective after several weeks, your doctor may recommend harsher medications or other treatments.
Medications
Medication for back pain depends on the form of discomfort. They might consist of:
- Pain relievers.
- Muscle relaxants.
- Topical analgesic agents.
- Narcotics
- Antidepressants
Physical Treatment
A physical therapist can instruct exercises to improve posture, increase flexibility, and strengthen the back and abdominal muscles. Regular use of these techniques can prevent the return of pain as well as discomfort. Physical therapists will also educate patients on how to modify their movements during an episode of back pain to avoid exacerbating their pain symptoms while remaining active.
Surgical Procedures
The following procedures may be used to treat back pain:
- Injections containing cortisone.
- Ablation with radiofrequency energy.
- Neurostimulators implanted.
- Surgery