Back Pain

Pain in your back may involve; the bones of your spine (vertebrae) that help support your weight; the joints that help with the movement of your spine; the discs that help separate your vertebrae and help them cushion the shock when you move; your muscles and ligaments that hold everything together.

Causes:

• Strain or sprain of one of your muscles or ligaments from not moving the right way or by overuse
• May stretch or tear your disc by moving the wrong way or by overuse. If the tear is big enough, it may push on one of your nerves. The nerve may also be bothered by swelling in other parts of your back
• Back pain may also be caused by arthritis or osteoporosis. Arthritis is often a steady ache rather than a sudden, sharp pain.
• Stress may bother your back and slow your recovery

Prevention:

• Good posture (do not slouch) and proper lifting is very important to help lessen the strain on your back
• Exercises to help strengthen and stretch your muscles help with your flexibility and your back's ability to support your body.
• Keeping your weight at the right level for your height puts less stress on your lower back
• Try not to sit or stand in one place too long
• Make sure if you work at a desk or in the kitchen, you do not have to bend.
• When you sit in a chair, sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor. If your feet do not touch the floor, use a foot stool or put some books under your feet.
• If you need to stand in one place for a long time, put one foot up on a stool, box, or book.
• When lifting something, bend your knees and use the strength in your legs, rather than using your back.
• When you lie down, you should either lie on your back with a pillow between your knees or on your side. Avoid lying on your stomach.
• Avoid high-heeled shoes.

Treatment:

Rest to give your body a chance to get better. Staying completely in bed for more than a few days is not recommended, because your muscles and bones get weaker. This can actually increase the time it takes to get better.

• Anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin or ibuprofen may be helpful. Do not take it if you are allergic to it or you are on blood thinners. The medication may also make your asthma worse, if you are an asthmatic. If you are unsure about taking the medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Cold packs may help decrease your pain and help lessen the swelling, especially during the first 48 hours. Put cold on for 15 to 20 min., 3 to 4 times per day or up to once an hour for the first 3 days.
• Take short walks or do light exercises to help keep your muscles strong and flexible.
• If your pain does not improve, your doctor may suggest other medications or physiotherapy.
• Sometimes antidepressant medications are used to treat chronic pain.
• Most pain goes away in a week or two.
• Strained ligaments, severe muscle strains, and herniated discs may take 3 months to heal
• Sometimes it can turn into chronic pain and last for several years (small group of people)
• Once you have injured your back, you have a good chance of it happening again.

Go to the Emergency Department or see your Doctor IF:

• Pain is so bad that you cannot do the things you normally can.
• Pain lasts for more than a few weeks.
• You have weakness, numbness, pain, or tingling in an arm or leg.
• You have numbness in your groin or rectal area.
• You have trouble controlling when you go pee or poop (bladder or bowels)
• High fever
• You have chronic back pain and it suddenly gets a lot worse.
• You get really bad pain in your back and it does not get worse when you move.