Most people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives but did you know that most people will do nothing about it? If you have back pain, rest assured you are not alone. Back pain can occur in any part of your back, but the lower back is the most common location – this is not surprising, considering that the lower back supports much of your body weight.
Back pain may be called either ‘acute’ or ‘chronic’ depending on how long your symptoms last. Acute back pain lasts less than six weeks whilst chronic back pain last longer than three months.
Back pain is a symptom, not a disease. That means the pain is likely being caused by something – something that can often be relieved when treated by a healthcare professional such as a Physiotherapist.
Firstly let’s take a look at the causes of back pain. Do any of these seem familiar to you?
- Strained muscles and ligaments;
- Structural problems such as slipped discs or curvature of the spine;
- Doing physically strenuous work;
- Standing, sitting or bending down for long periods of time;
- Pregnancy;
- Obesity;
- Feeling stressed or anxious at home or work;
- Smoking.
All of these factors can be the cause of back pain or are risk factors which can increase the chances of you developing back pain.
It’s often very difficult to know exactly what causes back pain and to make a diagnosis, but it’s usually thought to be related to a strain in one of the interconnecting structures in your back, rather than a nerve problem. Back pain caused by an underlying condition is quite rare and those affected are either very young or very old.
Underlying conditions could be a slipped disc, a fracture or rheumatoid arthritis to name a few but again this is quite rare.
The most important thing to do when experiencing back pain is to look at the cause. If it has occurred because you are lifting a heavy object, stop what you are doing and rest. The object could be far too heavy for one person or maybe you aren’t bending your knees when lifting. Simply stopping to think what you are doing can prevent the pain from becoming more serious.
If you have had back pain for a while or if it suddenly comes severe, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. A doctor can usually diagnose back pain from your symptoms without the need for further tests. In more serious cases you may be referred to hospital for further tests such as an X-Ray or a blood test.
Physiotherapy or exercise management is often recommended to treat back pain. Gentle exercise can help to relieve back pain and help to strengthen the back. Physiotherapy treatment can involve exercises, posture advice, massage, and techniques known as spinal mobilisation and spinal manipulation.