Back Pain
What Is Back Pain
Back pain can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include overuse such as working out or lifting too much, prolonged sitting and lying down, sleeping in an uncomfortable position or wearing a poorly fitting backpack.
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When You Need Back Pain Therapy
The short- and long-term goals of physical therapy for back pain typically include the following: Decrease painful symptoms in the lower back and/or leg. Improve low back function to tolerate daily activities as independently as possible. Increase the spine’s flexibility and improve its range of motion.
What Is Beneficial For Back Pain?
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.
What To Expect
Your therapist will teach proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting that reduce the likelihood of back strain or injury. You will also learn specific exercises to do at home. Regularly performing these recommended home exercises can help your back muscles strengthen more quickly.
What Therapy Is Needed For Back Pain?
Acupuncture, massage, biofeedback therapy, laser therapy, electrical nerve stimulation and other nonsurgical spine treatments can also make a difference for chronic back pain. Talk to your spine specialist about alternative treatments that could benefit you.
What Are The Common Conditions Of Back Pain?
A common cause of back pain is an injury like a pulled muscle (strain). Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica (a trapped nerve) or ankylosing spondylitis can cause back pain. Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer or an infection.
Types
Doctors and researchers describe the types of back pain in the following ways:
01
Acute back pain happens suddenly and usually lasts a few days to a few weeks.
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Chronic back pain may come on quickly or slowly and lasts longer than 12 weeks and occurs daily.
02
Subacute back pain can come on suddenly or over time and lasts 4 to 12 weeks.
Symptoms
Back pain can range from local pain in a specific spot to generalized pain spreading all over the back. Sometimes the pain radiates away from the back to other areas of your body, such as the buttocks, legs, or abdomen. The intensity of back pain varies for each person. Depending on the type, causes, and location of your back pain, you may experience:
- Increasing pain with lifting and bending.
- Worsening pain when resting, sitting, or standing.
- Back pain that comes and goes.
- Stiffness in the morning when awakening and lessened back pain with activity.
- Pain that radiates away from the back into the buttocks, leg, or hip.
- Numbness or weakness in your legs or feet.
You should see a doctor if your pain does not improve after a few weeks or if any of the following symptoms happen with your back pain:
- Numbness and tingling.
- Severe back pain that does not improve with medication (see Treatment section).
- Back pain after a fall or injury.
- Back pain along with:
- Trouble urinating.
- Weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs.
- Fever.
- Weight loss that you did not intend.
Causes Of Back Pain
Back pain can be caused by many different factors, which may all be present at the same time and interact to result in chronic low back pain. These could include mechanical or structural problems with the spine, inflammatory conditions, and other medical conditions. It is also possible that no specific cause can be identified for the start of back pain.
Treatment
Most back pain gets better within a month of home treatment, especially for people younger than age 60. However, for many, the pain lasts several months.
MEDICATIONS
Medications depend on the type of back pain. They might include:
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Pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might help. Take these medications only as directed. Overuse can cause serious side effects.
02
Muscle relaxants. If mild to moderate back pain doesn’t improve with pain relievers, a muscle relaxant might help. Muscle relaxants can cause dizziness and sleepiness.
03
Topical pain relievers. These products, including creams, salves, ointments and patches, deliver pain-relieving substances through the skin.
04
Narcotics.Drugs containing opioids, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, may be used for a short time with close medical supervision.
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Antidepressants. Some types of antidepressants — particularly duloxetine (Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been shown to relieve chronic back pain.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Surgical and other procedures, Procedures used to treat back pain may include:
- Cortisone injections.
- Radiofrequency ablation.
- Implanted nerve stimulators.
- Surgery.
Risk Factors
- Age. Back pain is more common with age, starting around age 30 or 40.
- Lack of exercise. Weak, unused muscles in the back and abdomen might lead to back pain.
- Excess weight. Excess body weight puts extra stress on the back.
- Diseases.
- Improper lifting.
- Psychological conditions.
- Smoking.
Prevention
- Do muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises at least 2 days a week.
- Stand and sit up straight.
- Avoid heavy lifting.
- If you do lift something heavy, bend your knees and keep your back straight. ...
- Get active and eat healthy. Being overweight can strain your back.
What Procedure Is Done For Back Pain?
Spinal laminectomy/spinal decompression. This is performed when spinal stenosis causes a narrowing of the spinal Tcanal that results in pain, numbness, or weakness. The surgeon removes the bony walls of the vertebrae and any bone spurs, aiming to open up the spinal column to remove pressure on the nerves.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What to expect in back physical therapy?
Your therapist will teach proper body posture techniques for sitting, standing, and lifting that reduce the likelihood of back strain or injury. You will also learn specific exercises to do at home. Regularly performing these recommended home exercises can help your back muscles strengthen more quickly.
2. How long is physical therapy for back pain?
There is no standard length of time PT usually takes. Depending on a person’s injury or health condition, they may require sessions one or more times per week for several weeks or months in addition to an at-home exercise program.
3. What happens after physical therapy is done?
After you complete your therapy sessions, your physical therapist will give you additional instructions for using what you’ve learned in your regular life. This may include stretches and exercises to do every day, or rules for easing back in to regular activity.
4. What exercises help with back pain?
There are many types of exercise recommended for back pain, including:
Biking., Daily activities such as house cleaning and gardening., Low-impact aerobics., Resistance exercises. Stationary cycling. Stretching exercises. Swimming.
5. Does physical therapy have side effects?
It is completely normal to be sore after a treatment, or even have a flare-up temporarily after. We are working on injured muscles/joints, therefore, it’s normal to experience slightly more soreness and pain after treatment, or experience more DOMs.
