Back Pain Explained: Common Causes, Types & Treatment

Have you ever experienced back pain? Well, the answer to this question is yes for most people, regardless of their age. 

Back pain, a common medical condition, can disrupt routine and life quality. It is caused by several factors, mostly different in each case. This blog will briefly look into the causes and treatment of back or spine pain. Let us start with the basics!

Back or spine pain clearly indicates discomfort to the back. It can range from your neck's base to the top of the buttocks. The pain can either be in a certain part of your spine or throughout. However, it often is a symptom of certain underlying conditions and injuries. 

People can experience different sensations during back pain. Some words people associate with pain include burning, dull, shooting, sharp, aching, stabbing, and throbbing. Moreover, people may experience tingling, weakness, numbness, muscle stiffness or tightness, contractions, and even muscle twitches.

Back pain is often categorized into two:

• Upper and middle back pain (The upper and middle region together are known as the thoracic spine)

• Lower back pain (The region is also known as lumbar spine)

• Acute back pain is something that lasts less than 1 month.

• Subacute pain lasts between 1 - 3 months.

• Chronic back pain lasts for more than 3 months.

• The most common causes of back pain include:

• Strains, also known as injuries to the tendons or muscles.

• Sprain refers to ligament injury.

• Tumors

• Infections

• Structural or mechanical problems like degenerative disk disease, arthritis, herniated disk, fractured spine, scoliosis, sacroiliitis, spinal stenosis, myofascial pain syndrome, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis. 

• Spinal tumors

The back pain treatment depends on the type and root cause. However, general treatment options include:

• Integrative medicine therapies like chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture, yoga, or massage therapy.

• Physical therapy

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

• TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

• Osteopathic manipulation

• Medicines

• Surgeries

You must consult the healthcare provider if you struggle with:

• Severe back pain

• Back pain along with severe or sudden weight loss

• No improvements in back pain even after one week

• Back or chest pain when coughing

• Additional symptoms like bloody pee, cloudy pee, or groin pain

Back pain is not always easy to deal with. It can make even the simplest tasks difficult to deal with. However, there are ways you can manage back pain, and before trying anything by yourself, it is best to consult spine pain management specialists in Ahmedabad.