Back Pain Symptoms and Signs

Most people will experience some type of back pain throughout their lifetime. Depending on the specific cause of the pain, it might heal on its own or it might require a doctor’s help to make the pain diminish. While pain from pulled muscles, exercise or muscle tension is usually mild and fades over time, if back pain worsens or becomes a chronic problem, seeking medical attention is usually a necessity.

Signs and Symptoms of Back Pain:

While the feeling of pain is obvious, understanding the signs of what the pain means is less evident.

• The most obvious sign of back pain is the feeling of pain in the lower or upper back.

• Neck pain is another sign of back pain, particularly when pain starts in the upper back and spreads upward toward the neck. In many cases, the neck becomes tense as a result of pain in the shoulders.

• In some cases, lower back pain can cause a numb or tingling feeling in the thighs and upper legs. Sometimes this pain in the legs can even spread down through the calf and ankles, depending on the specific cause of the pain.

• A persistent achy or stiff feeling in the back is a type of back pain. While it might not always feel painful, the tension develops into pain later if it is not handled while just stiff.

Causes of Back Pain:

The cause of back pain will often dictate the appropriate treatment methods and make it easier to determine if medication or medical treatment are necessary or if the back will heal on its own.

• Diseases or disorders often cause back pain. Common diseases or disorders that might cause back pain include spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis pain, fibromyalgia and cauda equina. These disorders all affect the back, particularly the spinal cord or the nerves in the spine, resulting in back pain.

• Hormonal changes in the body will sometimes cause back pain. This is particularly common during a woman’s monthly menstruation cycle, during pregnancy or if a woman is having a miscarriage.

• Injuries to the back are another potential cause of back pain. Injuries might cause a herniated disc, sciatica, damage to any part of the musculoskeletal system in the back, damage to the lumbar vertebrate or pulled muscles. 

Treating Back Pain:

When back pain occurs, treating the problem varies depending on the cause and what the doctor determines is best. Some treatment options are common among various types of back pain.

• Taking a pain medication is one of the most common methods of dealing with basic back pain. Pain from injuries that heal naturally, pain from some types of disorders and pain from hormonal changes often require nothing more than pain medication to manage the pain until it heals. Even chronic back pain often requires medication to handle the pain.

• Some individuals might try alternative pain relief, such as acupuncture or massage therapy to handle the pain. In general, alternative medicine is used as a complement to other treatments.

• In the case of injuries, physical therapy is often used to relearn the use of the body, particularly when the injury results in serious damage to the spine or bones.

• Surgery is sometimes an option, depending on the cause of the pain. Some injuries and some diseases might require surgery if other methods are not available to treat the problem.

Conclusion:

The signs and symptoms of back pain are obvious, but the reasons often take time to identify and treat.