Although a common and frustrating disorder, back pain is a condition that generally resolves itself within a period of a few weeks. In all cases, doctors and patients must work together to understand potential causes of this problem before they can reach the best solution.
Regardless of the cause of the back pain, the discomfort and annoyance associated with this condition are undeniable. The causes of back pain are many and varied, and can only be diagnosed by a medical professional.
These causes of back pain include lumbar muscle strain, the most common and generally shortest lasting back pain. Lumbar muscle strains generally resolve within a period of a few weeks; a ruptured or herniated disc, the treatment of which differs in individual cases; discogenic back pain, a common cause of low back pain that results from damage to the intervertabral disc, but without disc herniation.
A discogram can diagnose this condition; spinal stenosis, which causes back pain among older people, this due to the constriction of the spinal canal; lumbar spine arthritis, which causes back pain with movement; spondylolisthesis, which occurs when adjacent vertebra become unstable and start to "slip" because of degenerative changes prompting loss of the normal stabilizing structures of the spinal column; and osteoporosis, related to compression fractures of the vertebra. Osteoporosis causes weakness in the bones, which leads to these fractures.
Most people can remedy their own back pain by avoiding strain to the spine, and by applying heat and ice and taking medications. As with all conditions, rest and sensible living can only help, not hurt. Do not overdo, and take breaks from activity when you need to do so. In many cases, you can remedy your own back pain by amending your lifestyle, if only on a temporary basis.
If these basic steps do not solve the problem, it is time to see a doctor; especially if the back pain lasts longer than a few days, disrupts your sleep, or occurs in conjunction with loss of bowel or bladder control, fever, chills, sweat, or other signs of infection, or other unusual symptoms. These could be indicators of a more serious condition, and may require swift medical attention to be remedied.
Back pain is a condtion that affects the lives of many, in a variety of ways. Yet medical science is coming up with a variety of remedies to alleviate the pain. You will be back to yourself in no time!
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