Back Pain

Back pain is the ache or uneasiness you notice anywhere from your neck’s base to your lower back near the top of your hips. Many conditions or injuries can cause this. It stands out as one of the main reasons people go to see doctors.

What are the different types of Back Pain? Types Based on Duration:

• Acute Back Pain: Lasts a few weeks
• Subacute Back Pain: Lasts 6-12 weeks
• Chronic Back Pain: Persists for 12 weeks or longer

Types Based on Location:

• Upper Back Pain: Affects the thoracic spine region
• Middle Back Pain: Affects the area between shoulder blades
• Lower Back Pain: Affects the lumbar region (most common)
• Tailbone Pain: Affects the coccyx region

How Does Back Pain Feel? The way back pain feels depends on what’s causing it. You might describe it as:

• Achy
• Burning
• Stabbing
• Shooting
• Sharp
• Throbbing
• Dull You could also have other sensations or symptoms:
• Muscles can feel tight or stiff.
• You might feel tingling, numbness, or even weakness.
• Sudden muscle contractions or twitches can happen. These can be mild but sometimes turn into painful back spasms.

What are the most common reasons people have back pain? Figuring out why your back hurts isn't always simple. Sometimes, you can recall a specific moment when something went wrong, like twisting or lifting something heavy. Other times, the back pain might appear without any apparent reason behind it. Apart from back strains or sprains, back pain can arise from a variety of other reasons. These include: Issues with the structure or mechanics of your back Some examples of structural or mechanical issues that lead to back pain include:

• Arthritis.
• Degenerative disk disease.
• Fractured spine.
• Herniated disk.
• Myofascial pain syndrome.
• Sacroiliitis.
• Scoliosis.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Spondylolisthesis.
• Spondylosis.

Pain in your back caused by issues in other parts of your body:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Gallbladder inflammation
• Kidney infection
• Kidney stones
• Pancreatitis
• Urinary tract infection
• In women (Endometriosis and Uterine fibroids) infections

Certain infections might lead to back pain.

• Spinal epidural abscess
• Vertebral osteomyelitis

Tumors: Spinal tumours bring on a deep, constant backache that begins and grows worse over time. The pain is often dull and stays even when you're resting. It can intensify during the night. In some cases, sharp, stabbing pain may move from your back down to your arms, hips, legs, or even your feet.

How to Diagnose Back Pain Reasons? Your spine doctor will check you with a physical exam & ask questions about your pain. They may ask how it feels, what brings it on, or what eases it. They’ll also go over your medical history and discuss the kinds of physical activities you do. You might not need tests, but if you do, these include:

• Medical imaging such as X-rays, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT scans (computed tomography scans)
• Testing muscle activity with Electromyography (EMG)
• Checkups involving blood tests

What is the treatment and care of Back Pain? The treatment depends on its type and the reason behind it. To treat the root problem or reduce pain, your doctor might suggest one or a mix of these options. Therapy Options Medications:

• Injections of medications such as an epidural steroid injection (ESI) or a nerve block
• Prescription muscle relaxers, including cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, and methocarbamol
• Acetaminophen
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen
• Conservative treatment:
• Integrative medicine approaches, such as acupuncture, chiropractic techniques, massage therapy, or yoga therapy.
• Osteopathic manipulation
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to relieve pain.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to learn to manage chronic or intense pain Surgery:
• Doctors perform spine surgery often using invasive techniques.
• Specialists perform operations to address the root cause of pain.