The Complete Back Ache Treatment Page!The complete backacke treatment page!Oh my aching back! Severe back pain is the second most common reason for a visit to the doctor's office (after colds and the flu). What can you do to ease back pain (especially lower back pain) and get on with your life? What is your best back pain cure? Consult with your doctor to see which back pain treatment (including back exercises, NSAIDs, antidepressants, bed rest, lumbar supports, TENS, EMG biofeedback, acupuncture, traction and steroid injections) may help your particular medical circumstance. Remember that this site can only provide general advice on backacke, and you should consult your doctor for information specific to your condition. What Causes Back Pain? Pain
felt in your lower back may come from the backbone, muscles, nerves, or other
organs in that part of your body. It may also radiate from other areas like your
mid or upper back, or be caused by a hernia, a problem in the testicles or a
problem in the ovaries. If
you hurt your back you may
feel a tingling or burning sensation, a sharp pain or a dull ache. You also may
experience weakness in the legs or feet. Often
it isn't one single event that causes your back pain. You may have been doing
many things improperly -- like standing, sitting, or lifting -- for a long time.
Then suddenly, one simple thing like picking up a piece of paper, causes a sharp
pain in the back.. The
Good News You
are not alone. Almost everyone will have at least one backacke in their
life. Because the lower back supports most of your body's weight, that is where
the pain is most likely to occur. Lower
back pain is the second most common reason that Americans see their doctor,
after colds and the flu. Like colds and the flu, most backackes will get better
in about a week. Low
back pain may be acute (short-term), lasting less than one month, or chronic
(long-term, continuous, ongoing), lasting longer than three months. While
getting acute back pain more than once is common, continuous long-term pain is
not. Common Causes of Back Pain Back
pain usually starts right after you lift something heavy, move suddenly, sit in
one place for a long time, or have an injury or accident. However, the pain is
often a sign that something has been going wrong for awhile. There
are several possible sources of low back pain, but even a doctor may never
determine which is the original cause of your back pain. These possible problems
include:
Low
back pain from any cause often includes muscle spasms of the large muscles that
lie next to the spine. The muscle spasm and stiffness accompanying back pain can
really hurt! Risk Factors
Back
pain can actually come from diseases of pelvic organs, including:
Home
Care Many
people will feel better within 7 days or fewer after the start of their back
pain. After a month, the back pain probably will be totally gone. These steps
will help you reduce these times and get well faster. The
most important thing to know is that bed rest is not recommended for back pain
sufferers. Unless something serious is wrong (symptoms would include fever,
weight loss, weakness or loss of bowel or bladder control, and you should call
your doctor about any of these), you should limit your physical activity for no
more than a couple of days. After that, gradually resume your usual activities.
Try
sleeting in a curled-up (fetal) position with a pillow between your legs. If you
usually sleep on your back, a pillow or rolled towel under your knees will help
relieve the pressure. After 2 or 3 weeks you can gradually resume exercise. Light cardio training is best -- walk, ride a stationary bick or swim. Don't
do any heavy lifting or twisting of your back for the first 6 weeks after the
pain begins. Stretching
and strengthening exercises are important in the long run. Take it easy after an
injury to avoid making the pain worse. These
exercises are risky and should be avoided unless your doctor or physical
therapist permits:
When to Call a Doctor If you have lost bowel or bladder control, you may have a medical emergency. Call 911. Otherwise,
call your doctor if you are experiencing:
Other
reasons to call your doctor:
If
you have any of these symptoms, your doctor should check for infection (including
meningitis, abscess and urinary tract infection), a ruptured disk, spinal
stenosis, hernia, cancer, kidney stone, twisted testicle, and other serious
problems. If you visit your doctor: The
doctor or nurse will ask a number of
questions about your back pain, including how often it occurs and how bad it
feels. Your doctor will try to determine the cause of the pain and whether home
treatments like ice, over-the-counter painkillers, physical therapy, and proper
exercises are likely to help. These treatments are usually all that is needed. The
doctor will also give you a physical exam to try
to pinpoint the location of the pain. You may be asked to:
The
doctor will use a small rubber hammer to check your reflexes and gently touch
your legs to check the condition of your nerves. Because
most people with back ache recover within four to six weeks, your doctor is
unlikely to order any special tests or imaging during the initial visit. But, if
you have any of the symptoms or situations shown below, the doctor may
want further testing:
The
tests that might be ordered could include X-rays, myelogram, or a CT scan or MRI
scan of the lower back. Hospitalization
or surgery would only be considered if nerve damage were present or the
condition failed to heal after a long period. Many
people are helped by physical therapy. . The physical therapist will start with
techniques that reduce your pain, then will move on to teach you ways to prevent
a recurrence of the pain. If
your backacke lasts longer than one month, your doctor may refer you to an
orthopedist (bone specialist) or neurologist (nerve specialist). Preventing Future Back Pain The
primary way to prevent future back pain is exercise. Proper exercise (walking,
swimming or stationary bicycle, plus stretching and strength training) will help
you:
You
will also need to learn to
lift and bend properly:
Here
are some additional things you can do
to prevent back pain include:
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