Back Pain

Back pain is a very common issue that causes a lot of discomfort and inconvenience and decreases the quality of life.

Back pain

Back pain is an extremely common symptom worldwide, and it indicates various medical conditions and problems.

Causes and risk factors of back pain

• The most common causes of back pain are back strains, which occur due to an injury to the muscles or tendons, and back sprains, which occur due to an injury to the ligaments.
• Mechanical or structural issues in the back, such as arthritis, degenerative disk disease, fractured spine, herniated disk, myofascial pain syndrome, sacroiliitis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and spondylosis.
• Conditions that cause referred back pain, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, abdominal aortic aneurysm, gallbladder inflammation, pancreatitis, and, in women, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
• Certain infections and tumors.
• The risk of back pain increases due to the following factors: aging, lack of exercise, excess weight and obesity, lifting things improperly, smoking, and certain psychological conditions like depression and anxiety.

Symptoms of back pain

• Back pain can manifest as burning, sharp, stabbing, or throbbing pain.
• Some people might suffer from muscle tightness or stiffness, tingling, numbness, weakness, or sudden muscle contractions.

Diagnosis of back pain

• Physical exam.
• Imaging tests.
• Neurological evaluation.

Treatment of back pain

• Treating back pain depends on the cause, and most of the conditions may resolve on their own.
• Medications.
• Physical therapy.
• Surgery in certain cases.

Prevention of back pain

• Exercising regularly and strengthening the muscles.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Lifting things and moving properly.
• Avoiding smoking.