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.

Specific or Non Specific Back Pain

differentiating characteristics will be whether the pain is acute or chronic. If the pain is chronic then that means it is a persisting, long lasting pain. It often lasts longer than it is expected to even though the injured area has been treated. Not necessarily something suffered daily but something suffered routinely. If the pain is acute that means it gets better quickly, needing relatively little action to be taken. This is the first definition of back pain.
The next definition is based on the cause of the back pain. If it is obvious what is causing the pain then it is called specific low back pain. The main causes, especially if we are talking about workplace back pain, are usually diagnosed as vertebrate fractures or cracks, inflammation, infections, arthritis, a narrowing of the canal of the spine, pinched nerves, a dislocation of the spine, disc herniation or something similar. It does not need to be something rare to cause back pain. It can be as simple as someone sneezing and the motion straining the back causing a great deal of temporary pain.
But if it is not clear what is the cause of the pain then it becomes non-specific low back pain. This is not to say that there is not a cause for the pain, just that the health care provider is unable to find it. Surprisingly, despite the fact that back pain is very common, less than fifteen percent of patients suffering from back pain are actually diagnosed with a precise explanation of their pain. They may be shown the category is falls into, like muscle pain, joint pain or disc pain. Some pain is related to repetitive motion. These work, or sometimes hobby, related conditions are usually the result of performing the same motion over and over again throughout a day. People who work on assembly lines or at a keyboard may have these problems.
Often the non-specific low back pain symptoms are easier to treat even if the health care provider cannot pinpoint the cause of the pain. The pain is usually diminished with a treatment set that involves mild medications, cold or hot packs and a minimal reduction in daily activities.
But then, except in the more severe cases, treatment for back pain is more or less the same. Start with over the counter pain relievers. Analgesics are best, as they will help with the inflammation. If you need a better anti-inflammatory get one prescribed by your health care provider. Use cold packs or a hot water bottle, depending on personal preference, leaving it on for no more than twenty minutes at a time. Rest a little more but not too much as its worse for your muscles if you do, Begin a light exercise program of stretches. Most back pain will respond to these common sense steps. If not, see your doctor.

Written by: Scott Parat