Back Pain - Dealing with the Problem

Back pain is an ailment which most adults experience at least once in their lifetime. It can become so excruciating that it can practically immobilize the body and bring life to a standstill. Regular activities and work can be badly affected. However, thanks to medical advances, the causes of this pain can be quickly identified and effectively treated.

Understanding back pain means understanding how the basic structures of your back work. The back is composed of muscles, vertebrae, bones, spinal discs and complex arrays of interconnecting nerves which originate from the spinal cord. Pain occurs because of muscle or ligament strain or due to damage or injury to the spine, nerves, discs or bones. In short, any kind of interference with any of these hard or soft tissues can trigger pain. The intensity of the pain is determined by complexity of the condition. Timely and proper medical attention is necessary for back pain relief.

Only a proper diagnosis can help determine if the patient suffers from an acute or chronic back problem. Some of the most common causes of back pain are

• Lumbar muscle strain
• Ruptured disc
• Herniated disc
• Osteoarthritis/degenerative spine conditions
• Spinal stenosis
• Lumbar spine arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Osteoporosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Muscle strain/sprain
• Sciatica

Prevention is always better than cure. Some of the best methods to avoid backaches are regular exercise, nutritious diet with proper supplements, maintaining a good posture, lifting objects in a proper way and living a proper life style

Nevertheless, back problems can occur because of factors such as aging, injuries and accidents. A physician should be consulted if the pain persists even for a short period of time. Constant pain that continues to get worse or pain that radiates to the leg is a strong indicator that you should seek the advice of back pain management specialists.

An established pain management center with a multi-specialty approach can provide effective treatment for these back problems. Orthopedists, physical therapists, neurologists and chiropractors work as a team to treat patients effectively. They customize the treatment based on patient’s condition, severity and medical history. The main treatments would typically include physical therapy, hot and cold compresses, NSAIDS, pain relieving modalities such as TENS, pain medication and muscle relaxants, epidural steroid injections, prolotherapy, spinal decompression, manual techniques, and more. In most cases, patients get relief from back pain with these treatments.