How does our back works?
The spine, which is also called the backbone or spinal column, is one of the strongest parts of the body and gives us a great deal of flexibility and strength.
It’s made up of 24 bones, known as vertebrae, one sitting on top of the other. These bones have discs in between and lots of strong ligaments and muscles around them for support.
There are also the bones in the tailbone at the bottom of the back, which are fused together and have no discs in between.
As you grow older, the structures of your spine, such as the joints, discs, and ligaments, age as well. The structures remain strong but it’s usual for your back to get stiffer as you get older.
Causes
Often back pain doesn’t have one simple cause but may be due to one or more of the following:
- poor posture
lack of exercise resulting in stiffening of the spine and weak muscles
- muscle strains or sprains.
As we grow older, the bones, discs, and ligaments in the spine can naturally weaken as they age. This happens to all of us to some degree as part of the aging process, but it doesn’t have to be a problem and not everyone will have pain from this.
Sometimes back pain is linked with pain in the legs which starts after you start walking for a few minutes, and then tends to get better very quickly when you sit down. This is known as spinal stenosis.
This can happen from birth or can develop as we get older.
Problems are caused when something presses on the small space in the middle of the spine, where the nerves are. This space, which is called the spinal canal or nerve root canal, can be squeezed by bone or ligament.
Other causes may include bone problems such as a fracture – often linked to thinning of the bones, which is known as osteoporosis, an infection, a tumor, inflammation, for example in the condition ankylosing spondylitis.
In most cases, neither sciatica nor spinal stenosis is a serious problem. However, if the symptoms cause you a lot of trouble and greatly affect your quality of life then you should see your doctor for further advice and to discuss what else can be done.
Diagnosis
For one to be diagnosed with back pain, they must be thoroughly examined by a specialist. The physical assessment will help the specialist in deciding the main cause of the pain so they can recommend the proper treatment.
The physical assessment will incorporate tasks, for example, deciding the patient’s ability to sit, walk or stand. If agony is experienced when carrying out these responsibilities, the patient will be asked to rate the pain intensity on a scale of one to ten.
The specialist will likewise examine the patient on their capacity to work or play out their obligations while the pain is available.
The tests won’t just attempt to uncover the underlying cause of the agony, they will likewise gauge how much torment the patient can endure before they become debilitated.
After the physical examination, if the main cause is not yet clear the specialist will demand more tests that may have the option to offer solid responses like blood tests, nerve examines, x-beams and CT or MRI filters.
Our orthopedic specialist and pain management specialist Dr. Mahan Ostadian is the best in the field and will give a suitable diagnosis as well as treatment for your back pain.
| Read also: 6 Warning Signs of Lower Back Pain |
Treatment
Mild back pain can be treated with homemade cures and after a brief time, they vanish. After utilizing custom made medications and your back pain still won’t subside you will require a lot of more grounded treatment strategies to assuage the pain.
Back pain is viewed as one of the most unpredictable conditions since it fluctuates starting with one individual then onto the next. A few people experience consistent and outrageous agony that doesn’t leave while some experience serious torment that leaves sooner or later.
The treatment given for back pain depends on different factors like agony and intensity.
For mellow back pain, pain relief medicine can be acquired in the drugstore without a prescription or a hot or cold pack may work. Bed rest is certainly not a back-pain treatment and people with back pain are exceptionally exhorted against it.
People are encouraged to attempt as many activities as reasonably possible, they are expected to keep up their everyday routine if they are in a position to go for a stroll or do basic exercises.
Be as dynamic as possible but one is expected to maintain a strategic distance from those exercises that cause pain, rather than avoiding all exercises in dread of getting injured.
On the off chance that the treatment being utilized doesn’t have any beneficial outcome in the following few days or weeks, it may be a great opportunity to consult your pain management specialist about other more grounded medications.
There are different kinds of meds that specialists recommend to patients with back pain, contingent upon the sort of pain they have. Some of the symptoms could potentially be linked to a rare but serious condition that needs urgent medical attention.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Pain Relievers
This classification comprises NSAIDS like ibuprofen and Advil. These medications can mitigate moderate pain in the back. The drug ought to be taken as coordinated by the doctor as abuse of them can result in exceptionally antagonistic symptoms.
On the off chance that the over the counter pain relievers don’t end up being viable on your back pain, think about requesting that the specialist write a prescription.
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle relaxants can be ointments, analgesics, balm or creams that are applied on the skin at the feeble zone on the back and are a viable back pain treatment.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provides in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.
