Chronic Back Pain: All You Need To Know

Are you experiencing back pain for a while and want to know details about Chronic Back Pain? Chronic Back Pain may last 12 weeks or even longer, even after treating acute low back pain. Most of the time, people affected by acute low back pain develop symptoms of Chronic Back Pain in one year.

If you have Chronic Back Pain, you will experience a constant dull ache or a sharp pain. It can also feel like a tingling sensation while keeping you in persistent discomfort. Did you move and get a tingling pain that flared up in your back? You might have Chronic Back Pain caused by underlying conditions. 

What are the causes of Chronic Back Pain? I have tried to hit the nail on the head to get you to know the root cause of your back discomfort. Let’s get started. 

What are Chronic Back Pain Symptoms?

Chronic Back Pain often becomes the reason for absence from work. You get uncomfortable as it is debilitating. Chronic Back Pain symptoms come gradually and last for a more extended period; it may stick for more than six weeks.

It does not go away independently, and a specific injury may not be the reason for the pain. The main symptom of Chronic Back Pain is an ache or tingling sensation anywhere in the back.

This pain may go all the way down to the buttocks along with the legs too. Other body parts may also experience pain depending on the nerves affected.

As Chronic Back Pain is long-lasting, you have to avoid physical activity. Otherwise, your pain may worsen in the long run. Chronic Back Pain may occur along with the following symptoms:

• Weigh loss
• Inflammation or swelling in the back
• Fever
• Persistent back pain
• Pain downside the legs
• Pain reaches below the knees
• An injury or trauma to the back
• Difficulty in urinating
• Uncontrollable bowel movements
• Numbness around the genitals, around the anus, or the buttocks

When to See a Doctor

Most chronic back pain improves with home treatment and self-care, taking a few weeks. But you need to seek medical aid for your back pain if you have the following symptoms:

• Pian that does not improve with rest while lasting more than a few weeks
• Numbness in the legs
• Weakness or tingling in legs
• Fever
• Sudden weight loss
• Severe pain going below the knees
• Having new bowel or bladder problems

Diagnosis of Chronic Back Pain

The doctor may diagnose Chronic Back Pain after a physical examination and knowing the patient’s symptoms. An X-ray, MRI, and CT scan give information about the tissues in the back.

• X-ray shows the realignment of the bones while detecting arthritis or broken bones.
• MRI and CT scans reveal problems with the tissue, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, muscles, ligaments, or bones.
• Bone scans detect bone tumors.
• A radioactive substance detects fractures caused by osteoporosis or a tracer injected into a vein.
• EMG or Electromyography measures electrical impulses.
• The doctor may refer to the blood test if the infection is suspected.
• A physical therapist diagnoses the problem in the joints or body tissue.
• A chiropractor diagnosis through touch, visual examination, or palpitation

Scanning or other tests are required if:

• Back Pain is the result of any injury.
• An underlying cause that requires treatment
• The pain that persists for an extended period

What Causes Chronic Back Pain?

Chronic Back Pain has no single cause. You cannot blame a single injury for Chronic back problems. Several underlying problems contribute to Chronic Back Pain. People of any age group get affected for multiple reasons. 

Chances of lower back pain increase as people get older. According to a survey done in the United States, around 44 percent of adults aged between 45 to 64 experience back pain.

Chronic Back Pain is associated with the spine or the discs between the vertebra, ligament covering the spine and discs, nerves and spinal cord, the skin around the lumber area, and lower back muscles. Some causes of Chronic Back Pain are listed below:

• Pian in the upper back may be due to tumors in the chest, spine inflammation, or aorta disorders.
• Muscle deconditioning or muscle atrophy
• Improper posture or body mechanics as it stresses your spine and strains the tissues
• Genetics and aging
• Traumatic events
• Overuse of everyday activities
• Strain, muscle tension, damaged disks
• Lifting something too heavy or improperly
• Structural problems including ruptured or bulging disks, Sciatica, Arthritis, osteoporosis
• Kidney problems
• Movement and posture
• Some medical conditions may lead to Chronic Back Pain, like spinal infection/ cancer, Cauda equina syndrome, and shingles.
• Sleep disorders

Also, chronic back pain is more common and early in women. According to a 2019 survey, around 41 percent of adult women reported experiencing back pain. Back pain tends to be more prompt in women than in men. The reason may be hormonal factors, stress or anxiety, and mood disorders.

Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

Back Pain usually gets resolved with rest and home remedies, but for Chronic Back Pain, mostly medical treatment is mandatory. Pain relief medication or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen relieve discomfort instantly.

Doctors recommend physical therapy along with medications. Heat application, ice, electrical stimulation, or muscle release techniques alleviate pain. Muscle relaxants, narcotics, and codeine rescind well to back pain.

Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants. The therapist introduces flexibility and exercise for back muscles if the pain improves.

A good posture also helps to relieve Chronic Back Pain. The patient is advised to practice the exercise regularly to prevent the reoccurrence of back pain. Cortisone injections are directly injected into the epidural space. It is an anti-inflammatory drug that reduces inflammation around the nerves.

Injections numb the area that causes pain. Botox paralyzes sprained muscles but is effective only for 3 to 4 months. Traction also relieves pain as pulleys and weights stretch the back.

Cognitive behavioral therapy manages Chronic Back Pain by encouraging the patient to new ways of thinking. It includes relaxing techniques and adopting a positive attitude.

Complementary therapies may also be used along with conventional therapies. Acupuncture, shiatsu, and osteopathy help relieve back pain and relax the patient.

Yoga has certain specific poses and movements along with breathing exercises. Yoga strengthens back muscles and improves posture as well.

Surgery for back pain is not so joint. Surgery is an option for the patient for herniated disk or persistent pain and nerve compression that leads to muscle weakness.

Some examples of surgical procedures include fusion, diskectomy, insertion of an artificial disk, or partial removal of the vertebra.

Prevention is better than cure. You may lower the risk of Chronic back pain if you exercise daily. Eat a healthy diet, including calcium and vitamin D. Quit smoking and maintain healthy body weight. Make sure to keep an excellent neutral posture.

You can find out more about the treatment of Chronic Back Pain here:

Final Words

Chronic Back Pain is one of the common problems for people who seek medical assistance or miss their work. It is the leading cause of disability. However, if we take specific measures, most Chronic Back Pain may be prevented or relieved.

Simple home remedies or using the correct body posture heal Chronic Back Pain. If you have any queries related to Chronic Back Pain or want to share your thoughts with us, we are just a comment away! Visit evepacifichealth to learn more.