Back pain is so common that it is one of the most common reasons for workplace absence. It can be annoying at best and outright debilitating at worst.
Acute back pain, or sudden onset, is almost always due to injury from muscle strain. A day or two of resting those muscles, and some ibuprofen, is all it takes for relief. Avoiding the actions that caused this problem is recommended, of course.
Chronic back pain is back pain that has been present for more than a few weeks with little or no relief. Chronic back pain can be caused by a number of reasons. That being said, it is important to schedule an appointment and follow up with a spine doctor, pain clinic or pain doctors for any back pain lasting more than one month.
Chronic back pain can be caused by arthritis of the facet joint in the spine, where the vertebrae meet the spinal column. This can cause swelling of the joint. The spinal column is contained in a limited amount of space and any swelling in that area can quickly lead to discomfort and pain. Arthritis pain can be relieved by anti-inflammatory medications and exercise.
Other causes of chronic back pain include degenerative disc disease, trauma or injury to the back, cysts or tumors, and spinal deformities. When chronic back or neck pain causes numbness, tingling sensations or pins and needles down an arm or leg, a nerve root is involved. Often, a herniated or bulging disc can press on a nerve root causing those symptoms in addition to pain.
It is important to be checked by pain doctors or spinal orthopedic surgeons to determine the exact cause of the chronic back pain. Different causes require different treatment modalities. X-rays, MRI’s, or CAT scans should be obtained for the pain clinic to view and diagnose the problem. This, along with careful review of patient complaints and symptoms should be evaluated.
Sometimes, as in the presence of a cyst or bone fragment pressing on a nerve, surgery is needed to remove the offending tissue. However, many cases of chronic back pain can be successfully treated at a pain clinic.
Topic: anti inflammatory medications, bone fragment, causes of chronic back pain, chronic back pain, degenerative disc disease, nerve root, nerve surgery, pain doctors, pins and needles, spinal deformities