Back pain is one of the most common types of problems that can affect anyone at any point of their life. It commonly affects people between the age of 35 and 55. The most common symptoms of back pain are:
• Pain while coughing or sneezing
• Pain or numbness down one or both legs
• Pain while sitting or standing up
• Difficulty lifting weights and moving around
• Difficulty in passing urine or bowel movement
• Pain is accompanied by loss of control of urination or bowel movements
Symptoms and causes
Simple back pain is the most common problem and you are likely to develop it if you stand, sit, or bend down for long periods, lift, carry, push or pull loads that are too heavy, have a trip or a fall, are stressed or anxious, and are overweight. The symptoms usually disappear on their own after six weeks.
In some cases, the back pain may be severe; acute or chronic back pain may last longer than three months. Acute or chronic back pain may have a more serious underlying cause. These causes include osteoporosis, a prolapsed (slipped) disc, spinal stenosis, malformation of the spine, infection or collapse of the vertebrae, tuberculosis, or cancer.
Diagnosis
If your back pain lasts longer than six weeks, a GP will ask your symptoms and medical history. You may have to undergo a test if the GP suspects an underlying cause of your pain. Such tests may include X-rays, CT scans (a CT scan uses X-rays to produce a three-dimensional image of the body/or part of the body), MRI (an MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to produce images of the inside of your body), and blood tests.
Treatment
The treatment of simple back pain includes heat therapy (apply a hot water bottle or heat pack directly to the affected area, or take a hot bath), ice therapy (apply a cold compress, such as ice wrapped in a towel), bed rest, painkillers (such as aspirin or paracetamol), or anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen). You can also apply creams, lotions, and gels containing painkillers or anti-inflammatory ingredients directly onto the painful area. If the pain continues, your GP may prescribe stronger medicines such as diazepam, morphine, or tramadol, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS relieves back pain by delivering mild electric pulses to the painful area through electrodes on your skin. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines can also be injected directly into the epidural space (the space around the spinal cord) or around the joints of the spine to ease pain and reduce inflammation. You may also consider some natural methods such as physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractics, massage, and herbal remedies.
Prevention
Most of the back problems can be attributed to a bad posture and an unhealthy lifestyle. Keep your shoulders back and don't slouch. Maintain a good posture. Bend from your knees and hips and not your back. Reduce stress levels by using relaxation techniques. Do regular exercises such as walking and swimming.
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