Most people have experienced back pain at least once in their lifetime and it is one of the most common types of medical condition that a lot of people experience. The pain level can range from mild to severe and sudden sharp pain. It can sometimes become severe to the point of making it difficult for people to focus on their daily activities such as walking or even sleep.
Back pain is a major contributing factor to disability globally. For people under the age of 60, most of back pain episodes can be prevented or treated. If unable to prevent back pain successfully then regular self-care and proper use of the body will quickly repair the back.
People of any age might experience back pain for a variety of reasons. Lower back pain is more likely to occur as people age because of things like the occupations they did earlier and degenerative disk disease.
Causes Of Back Pain
There are several causes of back pain and these can even involve several underlying medical causes it could even be a simple mistake you make when you work out or could be something wrong with your posture as well. Therefore it is always important to get it checked and know the cause of back pain so that you can know how to treat your back pain effectively.
The causes of back pain are as follows:
- Back strains and sprains – lifting something heavy or not lifting it safely could injure your muscles, tendons and ligaments. In this way, you could get a back strain or sprain.
- Backbone fractures can also lead to back pain.
- As we age, the discs between our spine’s vertebrae deteriorate which could cause back pain.
- Conditions such as spinal stenosis or scoliosis can become a cause of back pain.
- Having spine infections or spine tumors and other diseases.
- If you overdo your workouts, this could also lead to back pain especially if you are inactive while you work and then spend too much time working out on the weekend.
- If your job requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting, pulling or twisting your back. If you sit all day at a desk, then it definitely would add up to your causes of back pain.
Back Pain: Treatment
There are different treatments for back pain and they differ from medical treatments done by medical professionals to home remedies that can be followed to prevent or get rid of back pain. These back pain treatments are explained below.
Medical Treatments For Back Pain
- In most cases, over-the-counter medication (OTC) would be prescribed to the patient and if the back pain does not respond to it, then the patient will be prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to cure the pain.
- Ointments and other rubs – Gels, creams, sprays, lotions and patches.
- If muscular spasms are also existing with the back pain then muscle relaxants can be used to treat lower back pain.
- Depending on the medical condition that causes you back pain, and if all other treatments have not worked out for you, then the best option would be surgery which will be recommended by your doctor.
- Attending physical therapy may help relieve your back pain. This may include applying ultrasound, electrical stimulation and also being guided with some physical exercises once the pain is improved.
- Osteopathic manipulation or chiropractic adjustments are some hands on manipulation which can help relieve the pain.
Home Remedies For Back Pain
Keeping heating pads or ice packs to relieve pain. Ice packs help to reduce the inflammation and help with the back pain or discomfort. Heating pads may help with the pain once the inflammation has reduced.
Engaging in exercises which helps to improve the muscle flexibility, posture and strengthening of core muscles.
There are essential oils and ointments which are made from capsaicin, an ingredient in peppers which makes them hot, that helps to make the nerves in the painful area nonreactive to help lessen the pain.