BACK PAIN: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND TREATMENT - BY ABDUL RAUF

 

Back pain is a serious and common health issue nowadays. It may be severe or mild. In both cases, it causes discomfort. It can impact people of any age.

There are many reasons for back pain. The chances of back pain increase with the increase in age. The pain may occur in the upper part of the back or maybe in the lower part.

Pain in the upper part may be due to the presence of tumors in the chest. Disturbance in the aorta and inflammation in the spinal cord also causes back pain.

The pain in the lower part may be associated with the disc in vertebrae. Stiffness in the lower back muscles and inflammation in nerves and spinal cord also causes back pain. 

 Why the backbone is much important?

The back of our body is made up of a very complex structure. It consists of muscles, ligaments, a number of disks, and bones.  These are the structures that work together and support the whole body.

The backbone covers the whole of the spinal cord. It also helps us to walk, sit and stand. Any damage in the backbone causes severe back pain and postural issues. To avoid such health issues, take care of your backbone.

 Causes of back pain

 As we know, our backbone is made up of different structures. Any kind of issue in any part of the backbone will result in severe back pain. It is the most developing issue these days.

 Here are some causes of back pain

 1.   Strain in muscles and ligament

 

 The strain that occurs in muscles and ligaments results in back pain. It may occur due to:

 ·         Some weight lifting or abnormal movement.

 ·         Tension in muscle 

 ·         Injury due to fall or some accidents

 ·         Dick damage

2.   Structural issues in the backbone

Any structural issue in the backbone can also be the reason for the pain. Here are some structural disorders that cause back pain.

 ·         Ruptured disc

 There are several vertebrae in our backbone. Between these vertebrae, disks are present for cushion.     Any damage to the disk results in severe back pain.

 ·         Arthritis

 It is stiffness and swelling of the joints. Any stiffness in the joints of our backbone gives rise to back pain. Due to arthritis, swelling may occur that can reduce the space for the spinal cord. It inserts pressure on the spinal cord and is known as stenosis.

 ·         Bulging disk

 It is the condition that occurs when one or more disks in the backbone undergo compression. This compression leads to back pain and issues in mobility. It is the degeneration related to age and becomes severe with time.

 ·         Abnormal curvature

 

 

An abnormal curve of the backbone causes pain. An example of abnormal curvature is Scoliosis. It is the condition in which the backbone curves to the side. 

 ·         Osteoporosis

 ‘Osteo’ means bone and ‘porous’ means pores.It is the condition in which the backbone including the vertebrae gets porous. Bones become weak and can fracture easily. This weakness cause back pain and health issues.

 3.      Posture and movement

 

Bend in your back during studies and regular activities results in back pain. This abnormal postural position also causes pain in the shoulders and back of the neck. There are some poor postural positions and movements that result in backbone issues.

·         Quick banding

·         Twisting

·         Overstretching

·         Hard exercise

·         Pushing, or lifting weight

·         Working for the long period

·          Long time sitting and standing without any support.

 

4.      Severe conditions of back pain

The causes, we discussed above, are not very severe. There are some reasons for back pain due to serious health issues.

 

·         Cauda equine syndrome

 Cauda equine is a bundle of nerve roots at the last of the spinal cord. It is responsible for the sensation of the legs and the bladder. This syndrome results when a disk exerts pressure on the nerve roots.

This pressure cuts off thesensation and disturbs the movement. This health issue causes back pain. In the absence of treatment, paralysis occurs.

·         Spine cancer

Spine means backbone. In cancer of the spine, a developing tumor exerts pressure on the nerves. This pressure results in back pain. Cancer is a major health issue, it may destroy the condition.

·         Infections

 Any infection in the backbone can give rise to a serious health issue. Any inflammation in the bladder, pelvic area, and kidney also causes back pain.

·         Sleep disorders

Any person, having sleep issues is more likely to face back pain. Abnormal movement during sleep or an uncomfortable mattress both cause pain in the backbone.

 

Risk factors for pain in the lower part of the backbone

Here are some situations in which you have to take care to avoid back pain.

       ·         Pregnancy is a condition of more weight on the backbone. So the back pain may result.

·         Smoking

·         Old age leads to the degeneration of the bone. Good care is important in this age

·         Obesity is a risk factor for back pain.

·         Genetics

·         Severe health issues

These are the risk factor for back pain in the lower part.Try to overcome the situation to avoid issues of the backbone.

Symptoms of back pain

 

Back pain can occur in any part of the back. This pain also results in discomfort in the other parts of the body. Some symptoms are:

 ·         Fever

 ·         Numbness in the anus or the buttock

 ·         Pain in legs

 ·         Severe pain in standing and sitting

 ·         Difficulty mobility

 ·         Weight loss

 

Clinical diagnosis of back pain

The doctor will diagnose clinically the type of back pain you have. It may be due to postural issues or other health issues. There are some scans to detect the type of back pain.

·         X-ray

 It is an easy way to detect an issue in the backbone. It can reveal any kind of bone injury if present.

·         MRI or CT scan

An X-ray can only detect bone damage. To find the damage of muscle, never and ligament we use MRI or CT scan.

·         Bone scan

To detect tumors, we use a bone scan. It also detects the compression results due to osteoporosis. 

Treatment of back pain

 At home

 If the pain is not severe, you can treat it at home.

• ·         Maintain a good position during work
• ·         Avoid the causes of pain
• ·         Keep your back warm
• ·         Use a pain killer
• ·         Sleep on a proper mattress
• ·         Take massage of the back

 

Medical treatment

 

In serious conditions, go to your doctor for a diagnosis of the pain. You may consult with the therapist for some exercises.

The doctor may prescribe NSAIDs depends upon the severity of back pain. In case of muscle issues, a muscle relaxant is best.