What is Back Pain?

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Currently, researchers are examining the use of different drugs to effectively treat back pain, in particular, chronic pain that has lasted at least 6 months. Other studies are comparing different health care approaches to the management of acute low back pain (standard care versus chiropractic, acupuncture, or massage therapy). These studies are measuring symptom relief, restoration of function, and patient satisfaction.

Failed Back Pain Syndrome

The condition of failed back syndrome is not one single factor that causes back pain but potentially a bunch of symptoms that occur after surgery, or sometimes following other types of treatments, all of which have long lasting effects. This may not be what you want to hear after recovering from a surgical procedure, hopefully one that otherwise has been a success, but nonetheless this is not good news. The most common pain related to failed back syndrome includes hip or thigh pain and back or leg pain. Sometimes it's a stabbing pain while other times it is a dull aching pain. Either way it can be blamed on something that was done, accidentally, during surgery.

One possible answer to these back pains is that during a surgical procedure nerves were cut that should not have been. This could very easily be the cause of the pain in the back. It would be classified as neuropathic path. If on the other hand the pain were more likely caused by scarring of the nerves this would be called radiculopathy. This term refers to the pain radiating and in this case it would be radiating from a nerve root that is sending out too many messages. Unfortunately there are more surgical errors that can cause back pain. What if during surgery somehow the person's posture was affected, perhaps enough to make them walk different. This could cause an inflammation of the joints and that could be very painful. Another mistake can upset the way the muscles are supposed to lie to allow for better functionality. This would make back muscles very sore and painful.

Back surgery is a very delicate operation and too often little things go wrong along the way. Sometimes its during the surgery and sometimes if during the process of healing. This can happen because of what the surgeon is going to do to the patient's back or because of what was done. Surgery as delicate as that done on the back is just as likely to develop new problems, as it is to fix the old ones. This is one type of operation where the surgeon guarantees nothing.

The acknowledgement of failed back syndrome only goes to convince those with back problems that surgery may not be the answer. Less invasive treatments are available to try first and surgery should only be done as a last resort not as a starting point. Even doctors are less likely to suggest surgery as a starting point now since they have learned more about what causes back pain and where it begins. This leaves many options for the standard back treatments of gentle exercises, anti-inflammatories and hot or cold packs to physiotherapy.

If you have been diagnosed with failed back syndrome do not give up. A fresh look at your problem many bring a fresh solution. Trying to find what will help to diminish the pain while increasing mobility, strength and flexibility are the place to start. Then treat the pain.

Written by: Scott Parat