A better understanding of Back Pain

Pain is normal, especially after a busy and long day. If pain persists beyond control to an extent where it makes you uncomfortable, it requires medical interventions. Most pain occurs in parts such as the neck, shoulder, hip, and back—the most delicate being back pain. Many people who involve themselves in physical activities are prone to this type of pain. For more information on this condition, visit Shrewsbury back pain specialists. To receive a better understanding of back pain, here is what you should know.


What is Back Pain?

Any pain that an individual experiences in the back and regions surrounding are considered back pain. In some cases, back pain is considered a symptom of various internal diseases. It also causes severe damage to the musculoskeletal structures.

What are the causes of back pain?

Back pain is usually caused by carrying heavy objects, muscle strain, and disc problems. Injuries, especially from sporting activities, are also the leading cause of this pain. Some chronic conditions also play a significant role in causing this pain. They include;

  •   Spinal stenosis. This narrows the spaces between the spine, exerting pressure on the nerves that pass via the spine.
  •   Degenerative disc disease. This is a condition that breaks down discs between vertebrae and the spine column. It causes a sharp pain that moves through the spine to the back region.

Other conditions include;

  •   Facet joint syndrome
  •   Osteoarthritis
  •   Herniated disc
  •   Sciatica

What are the signs and symptoms?

The following signs and symptoms usually characterize back pain;

  •   An individual usually experiences shooting pain that moves from the legs moving towards the back
  •   Pain when an individual is bending or twisting
  •   Pain when an individual is walking or standing for long periods of time
  •   Numbness
  •   Tingling feeling in the back region

What are the treatment procedures for back pain?

Doctors have developed several procedures that are widely used in treating this condition. In most cases, physical therapy is used to massage a patient around the back to relieve or eliminate the pain. Taking anti-inflammatory medication helps reduce the pain. For more chronic back pain, doctors use the following minimally invasive procedures;

  •   Epidural injections. This is an injection made directly to the nerves—the injection helps in relieving pain.
  •   Intradiscal electrothermal therapy. This is the use of an electrothermal current to eliminate all the pain in the targeted areas.
  •   Percutaneous disc nucleoplasty.
  •   Spinal cord stimulation.
  •   Vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.

If the condition is not responding to these approaches, doctors use surgical procedures such as;

  •   Microdiscectomy. This is the removal of portions of the herniated disc to relieve you from back pain.
  •   Laminotomy. This is a surgical procedure used to remove lamina from the spine, which causes friction hence back pain.
  •   Endoscopic decompression. This is the decompression of the spinal nerves. This decompression eliminates the pain that moves through the spine to the back.

Other commonly practiced surgical procedures include anterior, extreme, and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, Endoscopic decompression, and decompression discectomy.

In conclusion, back pains are very common and have underlying health issues. Seek medical attention as fast as possible before the condition gets out of hand. For more treatment procedures, visit the nearest pain specialists.

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