Back pain is one of the most common issues faced by people. While back pain is triggered due to several reasons it is usually is a temporary problem and heals soon enough. However, when the back pain persists for three-six months, even after the cause of the pain is resolved; it is classified as “Chronic Back Pain”. Dealing with chronic back pain can be difficult and needs medical attention.
To understand the symptoms of chronic pain, look out for:
Back pain ranges from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation. In addition, the pain may radiate down your leg or worsen with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking. This pain is consistent for months.
Following are some of the causes of chronic back pain:
- Muscle or ligament strain –Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you’re in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back can cause painful muscle spasms.
- Bulging or ruptured discs –Discs act as cushions between the bones in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and create pressure on nerves. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disc without back pain. Disc disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
- Arthritis –Arthritis or Osteoarthritis can induce lower back pain. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord and lead to a condition called spinal stenosis.
In some cases, it’s difficult to pinpoint the particular cause of chronic back pain. If the source of the pain is not known or can’t be treated, your best option may be to work with a pain consultant who can help you to reduce the flare-ups and making the pain manageable with nonsurgical treatments.
Here are some things you can do to prevent chronic back pain:
- Exercise: Regular low-impact aerobics activities that don’t strain or jolt your back can increase strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to function better. Walking and swimming are good choices.
- Build muscle strength and flexibility: Do abdominal and back muscle exercises which strengthen your core. This will help muscles to be flexible and strong.
- Maintain a healthy weight:Being overweight strains back muscles. If you’re overweight, trimming down can prevent back pain.
In addition to the above, avoid movements that twist or strain your back. Use your body properly. Maintain ideal positions and postures while standing and sitting. Also, avoid heavy lifting, if possible, but if you must lift something heavy, let your legs do the work. Keep your back straight and bend only at the knees.
To minimize your suffering and for getting appropriate treatment for chronic pain, make sure you consult the best doctor for chronic pain treatment. Dr Mona Mubarak is a chronic pain specialist with experience of more than 2 decades in successfully treating patients. She also specializes in PRP Treatment for chronic pain management. To know more, please visit her website.
