Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints and a leading cause of disability in people aged 19 to 45. Usually no one specific event leads to back pain. You may have been doing many things improperly like standing, sitting, or lifting for a long time. Then suddenly, one simple movement, like reaching for something in the shower or bending from your waist, leads to a sudden feeling of back pain. Most back pain will get better with rest and over the counter pain relievers, but it's important to use common sense when deciding whether to treat a problem at home or whether to seek medical attention.
What is Back Pain?
Back and neck pain can be acute or chronic.
Acute Back Pain - Acute back pain usually persists for a few days to a few weeks. Acute back pain can be caused by strain and trauma as the result of sports, housework or gardening, car accidents or any sudden stress on spinal bones and tissues. Acute back pain can also be caused by disorders such as arthritis. Acute back pain often is characterized by muscle aches, shooting or stabbing pains, limited flexibility and limited movement. Acute back pain typically improves within a few days or weeks with rest and home care.
Chronic Back Pain - Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than three months. Many times the cause of chronic back pain is difficult to determine and the pain can be progressive.
Who Gets Back Pain?
Nearly everyone has back pain at one time or the other and women are equally affected as men. Back pain is most often seen in adults between the ages of 30 and 50, partly due to the aging process but more often as the result of sedentary lifestyles with too little exercise occasionally interrupted by too much exercise.
What Causes Back Pain?
The most common cause of back pain is using back muscles in infrequent activities like lifting heavy furniture or doing yard work. Overstretching or lifting something too heavy can cause sprain, strain or spasm in one or more of the muscles or ligaments in the back.
If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of the more than fifty nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. When these nerve roots become compressed or irritated, back pain results.
Back pain can also be caused by degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine. Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor physical condition, posture inappropriate for the activity being performed, and poor sleeping position also may contribute to back pain.
When is Back Pain a Medical Emergency?
Occasionally, back pain may indicate a serious medical emergency. Pain accompanied by fever or loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when coughing, or progressive weakness in the legs may indicate a pinched nerve or other serious condition. People with diabetes may have severe back pain or pain radiating down the leg related to neuropathy. Anyone with these symptoms should contact medical assistance immediately.
Do Backpacks Cause Back Pain in Children?
A backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and supplies can quickly strain the back and cause muscle fatigue and back pain. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 13,260 injuries related to backpacks were treated at doctors' offices, clinics, and emergency rooms in the year 2000.
To avoid back pain, children carrying backpacks should bend both knees when lifting heavy packs, visit their locker or desk between classes to lighten loads or replace books, or purchase a backpack or airline tote on wheels.
How Can Back Pain be Prevented?
Your body must stay active to feel good. Losing weight, exercising and improving posture can all help to alleviate and prevent back pain. Gentle exercise builds strong backs and stomach muscles to support the spine and maintain flexibility. Walking, cycling, yoga and swimming are good forms of exercise to prevent back pain.
Swimming is particularly good for backs because it strengthens the muscles while also supporting the body with water.
If you are a smoker and you have back pain, you should quit smoking. Smokers have diminished oxygen levels in their spinal tissues which can hinder the healing process and lead to more back pain.
The important thing to remember is to keep moving to keep your back strong and healthy.
