Your spine is composed of strong bones/vertebrae. Unfortunately, in the absence of immediate care, you may experience acute or chronic pain, calling for instant care. If you need Shrewsbury back pain diagnosis and treatment, visit the Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine for immediate intervention. This piece offers more information about chronic and acute back pain that may hold you down to limit mobility and productivity.
About Back Pain
Your back is a fundamental anatomical structure offering the support required for mobility and balance of your entire body. The articulately designed structure also protects your spinal cord from injury.
The back consists of discs, bones (vertebrae), muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons. You should avoid heavy loads and poor sitting postures to avoid injuries to your back. With the appropriate care, you are protected from pain conditions that may call for urgent care.
Chronic Pain vs. Acute Pain
Chronic pain is described as a cavernous, throbbing, or burning pain that may be accompanied by weakness, tingling, and numbness that extends into your extremities. If left untreated, chronic pain persists for more than two weeks and could be resilient to conservative care.
Acute pain refers to a sharp and severe pain that comes suddenly and is likely to improve if given time and short-term conservative treatment. Your specialist may recommend interventions like rest, physical therapy, meditation, and avoiding strenuous activities.
Feelings of pain are mostly your body’s natural reaction to signals emitted from the pain source. Each signal travels through nerves in the spinal cord into your brain for interpretation.
Causes of Back Pain
Sudden attacks of acute back pain result from overstretched ligaments (sprains) or muscles (strains). Your pain could be more severe soon after the injury, with the possibility of getting worse a few hours later.
In some cases, back pain resulting from sprains and strains can be managed through conservative treatments offered within 2-4 weeks. If you have severe underlying medical conditions, your provider may recommend additional remedies for fully personalized results.
Major causes of sprains and strains responsible for back pain include:
· Stress and muscle tension
· Improper lifting
· Bending forward too long
· Sports injuries, accidents, or falls
· Sudden and strenuous physical efforts
· Poor standing or sitting postures
· Carrying a heavy briefcase or purse
· Hiking your shoulder while holding the phone receiver to your ear
· Sleeping position/wrong pillow placement
Physical conditions responsible for acute back pain include:
§ Pregnancy
§ Excess weight
§ Lack of muscle tone
Other causes of back pain include mechanical disorders, developmental disorders, inflammatory and infectious diseases, tumors, and trauma.
ü Trauma
Trauma to your spine refers to injuries that affect your soft tissues, boney elements, and neurological structures, promoting instability of the vertebral column and neurological injuries.
ü Tumors
Cancers and tumors of the spinal cord are rare but manifest through back pain. Back pain is common but isn’t a specific symptom of a known condition.
ü Inflammatory and infectious diseases
While inflammatory and infectious conditions of the spinal column are uncommon, you need immediate and in-depth tests to determine the extent of damage and the best intervention.
ü Developmental disorders
Abnormalities in the formation and growth of your skeleton may cause back pain. Your treatment may comprise conservative treatments or surgery for severe deformities.
ü Mechanical disorders
In some cases, you may experience mechanical pain in specific parts of your spine. You may need immediate attention for herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, arthritis, and spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis.
Treatment for Back Pain
In case of back pain, you should assess the severity of your pain and its causes to determine whether you need to see a physician if you:
   Experience back pain resulting from trauma resulting from a fall or car accident
Have numbness in your extremities
Experience bladder impairment or lose control
Are pregnant
Have chronic pain for over six weeks
Have acute pain that doesn’t improve with self-treatment and rest
Have chest pain or pain in the left arm
Are above sixty and been taking steroids for long
Develop a fever or severe headache
Bottom Line
In case of back pain, talk to a trusted healthcare provider for treatment options specifically designed for your needs. If you are in New Jersey, contact The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine to book an appointment today.
