Signs and Symptoms of Back Pain and How You Can Avoid It

It’s important to see a doctor right away if you notice any of the following:

• Pain that lasts longer than a few weeks

• Persistent aches that do not improve with treatment or after taking a painkiller like Panadol

• Bowel or bladder weakness 

• A fever

• Pain caused by injury or a blow to your back
  

Six common causes for back pain:

1. Muscle strain or sprains
When you stretch a muscle too far it can tear and cause a strain. Sprains usually affect the ligament. Strains and sprains are incredibly common types of acute back injury and they usually cause severe pain in the back. Frequent causes of sprains and strains are:

• Lifting heavy items

• Sudden movements

• Injury from falling or twisting the spine

• Poor posture

• Sports injuries
  

2. Disc rupture and degeneration
Spinal discs are like cushions that separate the vertebrae of the spine. They act like shock absorbers and help keep the spine in good shape and stable. But over time, these discs can be worn down which makes them more likely to tear. Discs can bulge or rupture and slip out of place. Not all disc ruptures cause pain though.

3. Sciatica
This type of pain usually travels from the back to the leg. It’s due to a pinched or irritated sciatic nerve. 

4. Arthritis
Spinal osteoarthritis is very common and effects about 40-85% of people worldwide. In particular, it afflicts older people. It occurs when the cartilage of the joints and discs break down. Osteoarthritis can be caused by injury or trauma and is more frequent in people who are overweight. 

5. Osteoporosis
When the density of the bones decreases, there’s a higher risk of fracturing. Brittle and porous bones are another common reason for back pain. 

6. Other causes of back pain
There are many reasons why your back may be achy. Some fungal and bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus cause pain. Kidney infections are also a common source of aching. Rarer reasons for back pain include cancer and loss of nerve function.

Self-care for back aches

It’s important to contact your physician if you are experiencing pain. If your back pain is caused by a mild strain or sprain, there are a few self-care options to help you diminish the aching.

Rest and avoid strenuous activities
When you hurt your back, it’s important that you take a break and avoid all strenuous activity until you feel better. Otherwise, you could hinder your back from healing quickly. If you tend to sit or stand for long periods of time and it’s making your sprain worse, you should take a break. Modify your daily activities according to your level of pain. 

Pain medication
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are available to purchase over-the-counter and can help you get through the day. Paracetamol tackles all types of back pain  caused by muscle or nerve strains.

Apply heat or ice
A hot bath, heat wraps or pads help to relax the muscles and improve blood flow to them. The increased blood flow ensures that more oxygen and nutrients are carried to the muscle and this speeds up the healing process. When the back pain is due to inflammation, apply an ice pack instead to bring down any swelling. Heat and cold packs can be used interchangeably and alongside Panadol Extra or other pain medications.

Managing persistent back pain

If you are experiencing back pain, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. They can diagnose your condition and guide treatment. There are a number of common management methods. 

Exercises for back pain
Because your muscles support the weight of your body, it’s important to keep them strong. If back pain lasts longer than a few days, consult your doctor. It can be good idea to practice a few prescribed stretching exercises. After an injury, you’ll want to start gently and slowly build up to avoid stretches or aerobic exercises that might trigger flare-ups or cause more damage to your back. 

Massage
Back pain that’s due to muscle spasms can be relieved via massage therapy.  A massage can increase blood flow to the affected areas and speed up recovery.

Muscle relaxants, opioids and steroid injections
For more severe back pain or subacute and chronic aches, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants or opioids to manage pain long-term. While sciatica usually clears up for most people within a few weeks, if pain persists longer your doctor might administer steroid injections to bring down inflammation of the nerve. Your doctor will be able to advise you whether any of these solutions are suitable for your specific type of back pain. 

Surgery
Most back pain won’t require surgery. It’s a last resort back treatment and mostly used to correct structural issues through operations such as spinal disk replacements. Consult with your health care provider if you have questions.