Challenging Back Pain

Back pain is common in both young and old. A back sprain or strain can happen suddenly or can develop slowly over time.

    • Strain is an injury to muscle or tendon due to which they get stretched or torn. Tendons connect our muscle to bone.

    • Sprain is an injury to ligament due to which they get stretched or torn. Ligaments connect our bone to another bone.

The causes, symptoms or treatment is the same for strain or sprain. While sprains and strains do not sound serious and do not typically cause chronic (long-lasting) pain, the acute (short-term) pain can be quite severe.

Most Common Causes Of Back Pain

Elderly:

      •  Sudden movement, such as a fall
      •  Poor posture
      • Lack of exercise
      • Problem of disc, joint, and/or an irritated nerve root
      • Osteoporosis (porous bone)

Younger:

      • Lifting a heavy object
      • Excessive riding or driving – bad roads or faulty vehicle
      • Poor posture – prolong use of laptop or computer, cell phone and work desk or chair
      • Lack of exercise
      • Sudden movement, such as a fall
      • Sports injuries
      • Problem of disc, joint, and/or an irritated nerve root

Impact of back pain

Elderly:

      • Restricted movement
      • Loss of independence
      • Poor quality of life

Younger:

      • Poor quality of life
      • Career progression

Treatment approach of a pain physician

    • Understanding the root cause of the pain through patient history and other information related to his or her lifestyle
    • Clinical examination and few investigations
    • Recommend activity and/or lifestyle modification – if the reason of pain demands it
    • Prescribe medication – oral, topical, or injectable depending on reason, severity, and duration of pain
    • Suggest exercises and physiotherapy as per the reason, severity, and duration of pain

Most of the patients improve by this conservative pain management option. But if the pain persists, then the pain physician may prescribe a few special injections for subsiding your pain.

 

Remember in most cases pain can be avoided – through healthy lifestyle, right posture, right diet (by preventing conditions such as osteoporosis) and by avoiding actions that can lead to pain. In many other cases, the root cause of pain can be addressed if the doctor is consulted at an early stage before the pain becomes severe and/or chronic.