Back
Pain
In our life back
pain is a common thing. In our country most of the people are suffering
from this disease. Back pain is pain
felt in the back of the body. It is divided into neck pain (cervical), middle
back pain (thoracic), lower back pain or
coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain) based on the
segment affected. The lumbar area is the most common area for pain, as it
supports most of the weight in the upper body.
Back pain sign and symptoms
Most people have experienced back pain sometime in their
lives. The causes of back pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to a
lifetime of bad habits. Other back pain
causes include accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries. Although the
causes may be different, most often they share the same symptoms.
Symptoms of back
pain can include:
·
Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along
your spine, from the base of the neck to the tail bone
·
Sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper
back, or lower back -- especially after lifting heavy objects or engaging in
other strenuous activity; (pain in the upper back can also be a sign of a heart
attack or other life-threatening conditions.)
·
Chronic ache in the middle or lower back,
especially after sitting or standing for extended periods
·
Back pain that radiates from the low back to
the buttock, down the back of the thigh, and into the calf and toes
·
Inability to stand straight without having
pain or muscle spasms in the lower back
Back
pain causes
Back pain can come on suddenly and last less than six
weeks (acute), which may be caused by a fall or heavy lifting. Back pain that
lasts more than three months (chronic) is less common than acute pain. Back
pain often develops without a specific cause that your doctor can identify with a test or imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
Muscle or ligament strain.
Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement may strain back muscles and
spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back may cause painful muscle
spasms.
Bulging or ruptured disks.
Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft
material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you
can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain. Disk disease is often found incidentally when you
undergo spine X-rays for some other reason.
Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases arthritis in the spine
can lead to a narrowing of the space
around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
Skeletal irregularities.
Back pain can occur if your spine curves abnormally. Scoliosis, a condition in
which your spine curves to the side, also may lead to back pain, but generally only if the scoliosis is severe.
Osteoporosis.
Your spine's vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become
porous and brittle.
Common causes of the
low back pain (lumbar backache) include lumbar strain, nerve irritation,
lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and
conditions of the bone and joints. But the main problem of the back pain is kidney problem.
Kidney problem
Kidney infections, stones, and traumatic bleeding of the
kidney (hematoma) are frequently associated with low back pain. Symptoms associated with kidney pain (also termed renal
or flank pain) are discomfort (acute or chronic), aches, or sharp pain that
occurs in the back between approximately the lowest rib and the buttock.
Depending on the cause of the pain, it may radiate down the flank to the groin
or toward the abdominal area. Some individuals may develop symptoms and signs such as: Fever, Painful urination
(dysuria), Blood in the urine, Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness,
Constipation or diarrhea, Rash, Fatigue, Chills.
Kidney stone pain — also known as renal colic — is one of
the most severe types of pain imaginable. Some people who’ve experienced
kidney stones compare the pain to childbirth or getting stabbed with a knife.
The pain is intense enough to account for more than 1 million visits to
emergency rooms each year. Usually the pain starts when a stone moves into the
narrow ureter. This causes a
blockage, which makes pressure build up in the kidney. The pressure activates
nerve fibers that transmit pain signals to the brain. Kidney stone pain often
starts suddenly. As the stone moves, the pain changes location and intensity.
Pain often comes and goes in waves, which is made worse by the ureters contracting as they try to push the stone out. Each
wave may last for a few minutes, disappear, and then come back again.
Usually, it starts with a bladder infection that spreads
to the kidney. Usually, bacteria called E. coli cause the infection to begin
with. Other bacteria can also cause kidney infections. It’s rare, but you can
also have an infection that gets in through your skin, makes its way into your
blood, then travels to your kidney. You can get an
infection after kidney surgery, too, but that’s very uncommon.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy back pain typically happens where the pelvis
meets your spine, at the sacroiliac joint.
There are many possible reasons why it happens. Here are
some of the more likely causes:
Weight gain .
During a healthy pregnancy, women typically gain between 25 and 35 pounds. The
spine has to support that weight. That can cause lower back pain. The weight of
the growing baby and uterus also puts pressure on the blood vessels and nerves
in the pelvis and back.
Posture changes.
Pregnancy shifts your center of gravity. As a result, you may gradually -- even
without noticing -- begin to adjust your posture and the way you move. This may
result in back pain or strain.
Hormone changes.
During pregnancy, your body makes a hormone called relaxin
that allows ligaments in the pelvic area to relax and the joints to become
looser in preparation for the birth process. The same hormone can cause
ligaments that support the spine to loosen, leading to instability and pain.
Muscle separation. As
the uterus expands, two parallel sheets of muscles (the rectal abdominis muscles), which run from the rib cage to the
pubic bone, may separate along the center seam. This separation may worsen back
pain.
Stress .
Emotional stress can cause muscle tension in the back, which may be felt as
back pain or back spasms. You may find that you experience an increase in back
pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.
When
to see a doctor
Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and
self-care, usually within two weeks. If not, see your doctor. In rare cases,
back pain can signal a serious medical problem. Seek immediate care if your
back pain:
·
Causes new bowel or bladder problems
·
Is accompanied
by fever
·
Follows a fall, blow to your back or other
injury
Contact a doctor if your back pain:
·
Is severe and doesn't improve with rest
·
Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the
pain extends below the knee
·
Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one
or both legs
·
Is accompanied
by unexplained weight loss
Also, see your doctor
if you start having back pain for the
first time after age 50, or if you have a history of cancer, osteoporosis,
steroid use, or drug or alcohol abuse.
How to relief or
treatment back pain?
Ease morning pain.
If your back pain is intense when you wake up, consider
putting a heating pad under the painful part of your back before you get out of bed. The heat warms up your muscles, eases morning stiffness, helps prevent
muscle spasms upon movement, and spurs blood flow to the area.
Get regular massages.
Massage can promote circulation, ease stress, relax
muscles, and boost endorphins—the pain relievers naturally produced by the
body. Some massage therapists can work in your home. If lying on a padded table
sounds too painful, ask about using a massage chair instead. Research has shown
that massage does more than just feel good; many people find massage actually
helps reduce their back pain.
Have a good laugh—with yoga.
Laughter increases oxygen intake, reduces stress, and
encourages production of endorphins—all of which help reduce pain naturally.
Laughter yoga programs around the country are designed to help people reduce
pain naturally through encouraging laughter.
Stretch your hamstrings twice daily
One often overlooked contributor to lower back pain is tight hamstrings. If your hamstring
muscles—located in the back of your thighs—are too tight hamstrings your lower
back and sacroiliac joints will be stressed, leading to more pain. Hamstring stretching should be done carefully
and at least twice per day.
Change your sleep position.
Sleeping in a reclining position can help reduce stress
on your lower back. If this is comfortable for you, an adjustable bed may be an
option.
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Even as you practice patience, a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen
(Aleve) can help ease the pain you're pushing through. The research behind
medicine guidelines for the lower back
pain finds that these may give slightly better relief than acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Over long periods, NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal problems, so don't take
them for more than 10 days without consulting your doctor.
Take a long, hot bath.
Don't underestimate the soothing effects of a hot bath
for easing aches and pains. Your muscles may even relax enough to allow some
stretching. While a bath is relaxing, some people have trouble falling asleep
right afterward. Taking a bath two or three hours before going to bed may be a
better option. To maximize the relaxation, consider using a bath cushion to
support your back while you're in the tub.
Pay it forward.
If you've found ways to cope with your situation, share
your knowledge with others who are in a similar situation. Start a blog, say it
on Facebook, or join online back pain forums. Helping others can pay off in a sense of
accomplishment and an improved outlook.
Positive thinking
No, the lower back
pain isn't in your head. But what is
in your head could be making it worse.
Fear, anxiety, frustrating and catastrophizing
can amplify pain. Deep breathing can help, too, as can simply shining a light
on dark thoughts. And keep positive think to move you forward and reduce your
back pain.
A new mattress
How old is your bed? You may be surprised to learn that
the average life span of a mattress
is less than 10 years. A number of studies over the years suggest that people
with lower back pain who sleep on medium-firm mattresses do better than those with firm beds.
Medications
Muscle relaxants: If over-the-counter drugs don't take
the edge off, your doctor may prescribe you a medication that relieves painful
back spasms. If you go this route, just know that side effects can include
fatigue and dizziness.
Topical pain meds: These creams and ointments are meant
to be rubbed directly on to the area that's hurting you.
Cortisone shots: If other treatment measures fail, your
doctor may recommend an injection of cortisone, a potent anti-inflammatory.
There are risks—including thinning of nearby bone—and relief typically lasts
just a few months, tops.
Hot or cold therapy
Hot or cold packs may help ease pain and reduce symptoms.
The soothing relief from heat, or
the dulling relief from a cold pack, is only temporary and will not treat more
serious causes of back pain. However, they may provide greater mobility for
people with acute, subacute, or chronic pain allowing
people to get up and get moving.