got back pain?

Back pain is a common condition which affects most people in the United States at least once in their lifetime.

Causes

Though most back pain does not have a definite cause, conditions that have been linked to back pain include muscle strain from activities like repeatedly lifting heavy objects incorrectly or sitting with a poor posture.

Bulging or ruptured disks can also cause back pain by compressing a nerve. Arthritis can also contribute to the development of this condition by causing spinal stenosis or narrowing of the space around the spinal cord. Other diseases which affect the bones like osteoporosis can also cause back pain if the bones fracture.

Symptoms

Symptoms of back pain include muscle aches, a shooting or stabbing pain in the back and pain that radiates or travels down the leg. Other symptoms include limited flexibility or range of motion of the back and inability to stand up straight.

Evaluation

Diagnostic tests that can be done for patients with back pain to help determine the cause include x-rays of the back since these can show if there are fractures, tumors or osteoarthritis and reveal if the bones are correctly aligned.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also done to reveal the presence of herniated disks and other problems with soft tissues like the muscles and ligaments that may causing the back pain.

Electrodiagnostic studies that can be done on patients with back pain include electromyography (EMG) which evaluates the responses of muscles to electrical impulses produced by the nerves. The EMG can confirm the presence of nerve compression from herniated disks or spinal stenosis.

Treatment

Medications used to treat back pain include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) since they reduce the pain and inflammation. Narcotics like codeine and hydrocodone are prescribed for those with more severe pain.

Cold compression packs are also used to relieve back pain. These are usually applied for 20 minute durations several times during the day for two to three days. Their application is then followed by that of hot compression packs to increase blood flow.