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.

Slipped Disc and Back Pain

Back pain, especially when the pain is in the lower back, commonly shows itself in the form of muscle strain, muscle spasm or a slipped disc. People will injury their back most often by lifting something wrong. The item need not be heavy; though lifting something heavy can strain your back. But even lifting something light using the wrong muscles in your back can cause strain and pain. Bending wrong or for too long, like working in your garden or shoveling the snow, can also cause back problems. The strain can cause a disc in the spine to bulge out between the bones and put pressure on the nerves. This is known as a slipped disc.

There are some things you can do to ease this pain in your back. Usually treatment is simple and requires a few days bed rest, but no more, as more tends to weaken your muscles. Hot and cold treatments are also recommended. This is in the form of ice packs or a hot water bottle or heating pad. Which you use is based solely on preference and what works best for you. When doing these treatments you should be sure to use the heat or cold for no more than twenty minutes at a time.

Over the counter pain relievers are also recommended. Then as the pain begins to diminish you will begin a light exercise program to strengthen the back muscles so that it will hopefully not recur. If you know some one who could give you a gentle back massage that too would help lessen the pain.

Make sure, even when you are ordered to rest in bed, that you get up and walk around for a few minutes every couple of hours. This light stretching will be the beginning of strengthening those back muscles without overdoing it. Too much time in bed can do as much harm as good.

One of the ways to ease back pain, that is recommended, consists of lying flat on the floor, and putting pillows under the knees. It takes some of the weight off your back and is supposed to be very good for you. But if you want to work on improving your back problems, including a slipped disc, rest and anti-inflammatory medications are the standard treatments. Using these methods ninety five percent of all suffers recover quickly from a slipped disc and are easily able to return to their normal daily activities. The other five percent need further treatments, which may be in the form of steroid shots or in some cases surgery.

The way to ensure that the back pain you have been dealing with does not return sometimes requires changes in your lifestyle. If you are overweight that can put strain on your back, lose some weight and you will notice a difference. Posture is important. Good posture puts less strain on back muscles so if you are a back pain sufferer begin posture improvements and you feel less back pain.

Written by: Scott Parat