Back pain used to be a common complaint among the elderly; but nowadays, even young people are suffering from this problem. Pain in the lower back region is perhaps the commonest woe of sedentary work culture. According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, about eighty percent of adults complain about lower back pain in their lifetime.
If you too are suffering from chronic back pain then do not delay – book an appointment at Santosh Hospitals, the best orthopedic hospital in NCR Delhi, for expert guidance by top orthopedic surgeons. Expert orthopedics suggest that if you feel your back pain is pestering then do not neglect it - understand your symptoms and conditions and consult with your doctor.
In this blog, let us find out about back pain - its probable causes, symptoms, remedies, and much more.
What causes back pain?
- Degeneration of the discs - This happens with age because when we are young the intervertebral discs remain flexible which means we can bend easily. These discs are subjected to degeneration when we become old and find it difficult to bend.
- Disc herniation - This is also age-related. Inflammation of soft tissues puts pressure on the nerves which gives rise to disc herniation.
- Injuries or sprains, traumatic injuries, and strains - If the ligament or tendons tear the result can be too painful. Overstretching during exercising sessions or sports injury or picking up heavyweight are the probable causes.
- Skeletal irregularities - With age, spinal curvatures occur in some people.
- Scoliosis - When the core muscle is weak back pain is common.
- Arthritis - This is one of the common causes that trigger the excruciating back pain.
- Advanced stage of pregnancy - During pregnancy extra pressure strains the back muscles hence the pain
- There are some other problems such as sciatica, kidney disease, compression of the nerves and some tumors that can cause back pain
What are the symptoms of back pain?
- The problem in bending over easily or sitting up straight. The full motion of the body is lost.
- Pain in the lumbar area
- Pain while sitting or standing
- Inability to lift heavyweight
- Agonizing pain in the thighs and the buttocks area
- Stiffness that won’t allow you to twist properly or if you try to straighten your upper body you will feel a sharp pain
- The pain will spread to shoulders and even neck
- Tenderness, numbness, and spasms in the back
- Wilted posture
What are your treatment options?
In the case of acute back pain consult an orthopedic immediately. In case of persistent and unbearable pain, talk to your doctor who might ask you to get a nerve test done along with MRI and other tests. Later on, you might have to start taking medicines for your back pain. In case you feel your back pain is bearable, then take some rest along with anti-inflammatory medicine. Use hot compresses or cold compresses that can relieve your pain. Maintain a position while lying down that will not hurt or sprain your spine. If you feel that the pain is still there with no improvement whatsoever, then opt for physiotherapy or start doing a light workout regularly that might improve your pain. Doctors sometimes use injections such as epidural injections or trigger point injections or anti-inflammatory joint injections and so on, to reduce the pain. However, in some severe cases, surgery might be the only option.
Do not worry about back pain, visit an orthopedic at Santosh Hospitals, the most renowned orthopedic hospital in Ghaziabad. With state-of-the-art patient services and world-class infrastructure, this is your place to start living a pain-free life.