Are you experiencing a stabbing, burning, or shooting sensation in your back whenever you stand, bend, twist, or lift something? If so, then you most likely have back pain.
Back pain can range from mild to severe, with the latter making even the slightest body movement a nightmare. Today, millions of Americans struggle with back pain, the leading cause of disability in individuals below 45.
Some cases of back pain may resolve on their own, while others may need medical intervention. You don’t have to live with pain every day of your life when there are modern medicine solutions to make the pain and discomfort go away.
Keep reading to know the different types of back pain, causes, when to take back pain seriously, and of course, how to treat it.
What Kind of Back Pain Can You Experience?
Back pain is a challenging condition to manage and not all back pain is the same. It can be categorized into one of three categories, depending on how long you’ve experienced it. These categories are:
Acute Back Pain
In most cases, acute back pain goes away on its own and doesn’t really need therapies or surgeries. In some rare cases though, the pain may not subside in time for a person to return to their normal life activities. When this happens it’s best that you consult your doctor so they can prescribe an appropriate course of action like emergency surgery if necessary.
Subacute Back Pain
Long-lasting back pain that lasts between six and twelve weeks is classified as subacute. Some cases resolve on their own, while others develop into chronic pain. With the right treatment plan, this kind of low-level discomfort can be resolved with conservative methods such as medications or physical therapy without resorting to invasive procedures like surgery which carry a much higher risk of side effects.
Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain is the worst. If you have chronic back pain it means that your injury has been around for longer than 6-12 weeks, and most likely will not get better on its own. Some doctors say this kind of thing can be resolved with conservative measures like medication/pain management or physical therapy but some people need surgery to fix their problems too.
The Most Common Causes of Back Pain
A myriad of things may cause back pain, and many times, you will not be able to pinpoint the actual trigger on your own. However, knowing the cause of your back pain is crucial as it will determine the treatment approach.
When you visit a specialized spinal doctor, you should expect to answer questions and go through certain tests to identify the cause of the problem to devise a proper treatment.
That said, some of the most common causes of back pain include:
- Trauma or injuries from slips falls, accidents, etc.
- Pressure on the back and spine from obesity
- Muscle overuse from heavy, repetitive, or improper lifting
- Degenerative disc disease
- Strains or tears on muscle, tendons, or ligaments supporting the spine
- Bulging or ruptured discs
- Spasms from strenuous sporting activities or exercising
- Smoking
- Arthritis (usually causes acute or chronic low back pain)
- Emotional problems, i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression
- Congenital abnormalities
- Osteoporosis
- Other medical conditions like pregnancy, back tumors, Scoliosis, Endometriosis, infections, etc.
There are several things, lifestyle or medical-related that bring about back pain or make the pain worse. In some instances, back pain may be caused by what you don’t do rather than what you actually do. For example, not working out at all, not taking adequate breaks from your sitting desk, or not assuming the correct posture when seated on your desk.
When to Take Your Back Pain Seriously?
As already mentioned, not all back pain needs medical attention. Some pain may resolve in a couple of days or weeks. That is not to say you shouldn’t take your back pain seriously.
Pain is not the only indicator of a serious problem, as some severe back conditions only present themselves as moderate pain. Consider setting an appointment with a back and spine specialist immediately if:
- You experience back pain that comes on quickly and becomes worse with time
- Your back hurts for more than two weeks with no sign of improvement
- You develop pain as a result of a fall, collision, or accident
- You experience pain that prevents you from going about your daily activities
- You have pain that doesn’t get better with rest
- You lose control over your bladder or bowel movements
- Your back pain is accompanied by other symptoms like weakness, numbness, fever, or stomach pain.
Remember, back pain may also be an indicator of other medical problems. So, seeking treatment even if the pain isn’t too severe can help detect other issues.
How to Avoid or Prevent Back Pain
While not all back pain issues can be avoided, there are lifestyle changes you can implement today to lower your risk of developing it. These include:
- Regular low to moderate impact exercising
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Adopting the correct sitting and standing postures
- Investing in seats with adequate back support
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding heavy lifting
- Building back and abdominal muscles
Invasive Treatment for Chronic Pain
So, how is back pain treated? Depending on the cause, severity, and the pain’s duration, your doctor might use a combination of treatment approaches. Home therapy, OTC pain medications, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy may help to manage the pain. However, invasive rehabilitation is the best solution for long-lasting relief if the pain is severe or relentless.
Invasive treatment for back pain may be categorized into two:
Minimally Invasive Treatment
Minimally invasive treatment refers to treatment approaches that require very minimal surgical procedures to relieve pain. In most cases, these procedures use local anesthesia and don’t require hospital admission. The goal of these treatments is to reduce the recovery time, including the pain and discomfort of having the procedure done.
Examples of minimally invasive treatments include:
- Nerve or spinal stimulator implants for masking pain signals.
- Radiofrequency neurotomy.
- Epidural steroid injections.
- Lumbar disc microsurgery.
- Stem cell therapies.
Surgery
In some cases of chronic back pain, especially when the pain is accompanied by muscle weakness or numbness, surgery may be necessary. Surgery is considered an invasive treatment as it involves significant surgical incisions. However, it can prevent more serious complications like permanent paralysis. Examples of invasive back treatments include spinal fusions, laminectomy, discectomy.
Get Back Pain Relief With New York Spine Specialist
Back pain may sneak up on you slowly but is usually relentless and can make your life unbearable. However, there’s no reason to quit doing the things you love or living life to the fullest because of pain.
New York Spine Specialist are experts at modern minimally-invasive and invasive treatments to help treat back pain for good. Our specialized team of spinal cord experts can help with any neck or back pain, weakness, or numbness arising from muscle overuse, strains, injuries, trauma, and even other medical conditions.
Contact us today at (516) 355-0111 or request an appointment.