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In the United States, back pain is one of the most most common neurological ailment, second only to headaches.
Most of the time back pain is caused by a minor fall or lifting a heavy object. What you suffer is actually a muscle pull or ligament strain. These types of injuries cause pain that lasts only a few days.
Sometimes you can find pain relief with the use of anti inflammatory medicines like, ibuprofen. The next best thing to do for the pain is rest and ice. This should improve the pain and give relief over the next 5 to 7 days. Believe it or not, back pain just doesn’t happen to adults. There are studies that have shown that 10 to 40% of middle and high school students do experience some form of lower back pain.
Low back pain associated with muscle fatigue can come and go at different times, often without an obvious reason for onset. These occurrences make it hard to get around with our daily activities. Due to the complex anatomical structure or our backs, back pain can be difficult to diagnose. Many muscle tendons, ligaments, bones and neurological components make up the structure of the back.
Back pain is ubiquitous in developed countries. With all the knowledge that we have today, and with all the medical advances, the truth is that we are uncertain as to what causes lower back pain. You have to remember that muscle fatigue and low back pain is not a diagnosis. What you have is a symptom of a serious underlying condition. You can feel pain in the back even when it is from other organs. This is one of the main causes of disability for people under age 45. It is amazing that 80% of all Americans will suffer from back pain at one time or another in their lives.
There are 3 categories of back pain, that are based on the duration of the symptoms. They are:
Acute back pain - Pain will normally last for less than six weeks. Subacute back pain - Pain lasts for anywhere between six to twelve weeks. Chronic back pain - Any pain that lasts longer than twelve weeks.
Some of the common causes are:
Impingement on the nerve commonly called a pinched nerve Herniated discs commonly referred to as a slipped disc or ruptured disc Muscular problems Spinal degeneration The well known sciatic back pain Osteoarthritis
To provide detail of the discs in your back, in cases of degenerative disc disease, isthmic spondylolisthesis, herniated discs or spinal stenosis, MRI scans are very useful and are helpful in ruling out tumors or spinal infections. MRI scans have become the most prevalent test to check the lumbar spine. These MRI scans don’t require needles and are painless. MRI scans are usually taken after x-rays have been taken.
When you are having spasms of the back, medication such as muscle relaxants are sometimes prescribed for relief and treatment. This type of medication should not be taken for a long duration and it does have a tendency to cloud the mind. The benefits are controversial and they have some serious side effects, such as sedation and potential dependency on the drug.
Relaxing the muscles in the back is the best treatment for back spasms. Many ways to relax the back muscles are by gentle stretching, massaging the area, using heat and using a tens unit. Back pain can remain as long as there is some type of imbalance with the muscles usually caused by a muscle strain or pull.
