What is Back Pain?

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Currently, researchers are examining the use of different drugs to effectively treat back pain, in particular, chronic pain that has lasted at least 6 months. Other studies are comparing different health care approaches to the management of acute low back pain (standard care versus chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage therapy). These studies are measuring symptom relief, restoration of function, and patient satisfaction.

More Causes of Lower Back Pain

For the many people who suffer from lower back pain there are as many questions as there are answers to the causes. There can be many different sources of this pain from injuries to illness. Have you fallen? Are you unable to move without pain shooting through you? If you are experiencing sudden unexplained back pain that is very serious in the degree of pain you are suffering and are over sixty there are a few possibilities. It could be arthritis but more likely it is a collapsed vertebrate. This can be very painful, but is not dangerous. See your health care provider for how to deal with this problem.

If you had an injury when you were younger it is possible that is was not tended to properly and you are suffering the pain from that at this time. If you have back pain that has over the years bothered you only sometimes and it seems to have settled into your lower spine this can be spondylolisthesis or spondylosis. These are conditions that mean a person was born with or that they had an injury either of which resulted with their being a crack in their spine. Treatment is simple; the patient eases off of excessive physical activity, rests and takes anti-inflammatories prescribed by the health care provider.

Lower back pain can also be a sign of something wrong that is not related to your back. If you are experiencing back pain but as well there is blood in your urine or a burning when you urinate then this is likely a sign of a kidney infection. It may be kidney stones that are causing the back pain, the blood and the sensation of burning. These symptoms, which are not necessarily accompanied by a fever, require a trip to the doctor.

You may also find that a bad flu will give you some lower back pain, as well as a feeling of heaviness in your limbs. This is simple to treat and you only need to see your doctor if the symptoms remain for more than a week without sign of improvement.

One other cause of lower back pain can be arthritis. Ankylosing Spondylitis is a type of arthritis, which has signs that include stiffness when you first get out of bed in the morning. There can also be swelling of the joints. You can treat yourself by taking anti-inflammatories or over the counter pain relievers. A treatment using heating pads or a hot water bottle will also be useful. Unless the pain persists in a way that you feel unable to treat there is no need to see your doctor.

Back pain is all too common among Americans. It accounts for way too much time off work as well as visits to doctor's offices. Many of the conditions are not preventable but some are by treating your back better. This includes lifting more carefully to avoid strain, exercising to keep the muscles strong, eating well and sleeping well.

Written by: Scott Parat