Back Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment In Glen Carbon

As a person dealing with back pain, a friend or family member may have recommended seeing a chiropractor in Glen Carbon for treatment. Just like chiropractic, other treatments include physical therapy and medical treatment. But how do people get back pain at all?

Back pain is one of the most typical medical problems, and it can develop due to many factors. It may be caused by anything, ranging from a structural problem such as ligament injury to an inflammatory one like arthritis. What is back pain all about? Is it more severe than people make it out to be?

Causes of Back Pain in glen carbon

The back is a rear surface with multiplex structures, including muscles, vertebrae, tendons, ligaments, spinal cord, and intervertebral discs. Any problem with any of these structures can result in back pain.
Habits and Posture

Technology is responsible for the bad posture of many. People sit in awkward positions for hours, staring down at their phone screens or bending their necks at their desks. This hunched, poor posture strains the muscles, and the spine develops back and shoulder problems over time and may even change the spine’s characteristics. It’s why people are advised to maintain good sitting and standing posture.

Other habits like sitting for long periods, straining the neck forward, and smoking can affect the back in several ways. Sitting for long hours without taking breaks can mess up the discs, causing tension in the lower back that results in back pain. Smoking is an activity identified as a cause of tissue and spine deterioration.

Structural Factors

• Sprain. A person can feel pain in the back when strain occurs, perhaps when doing heavy lifting wrongly. They will feel pain when the ligaments supporting the spine are stretched or torn.
• Scoliosis. Scoliosis is when the spine has an abnormal curve, usually the “C” or “S” shape. This condition or any other hereditary alterations to the spine can cause pain in the back.
• Degenerated Disc. Disc degeneration is usually a result of aging. It is the deterioration of the discs.
• Vertebral Fracture. This condition refers to the breaking of a person’s backbone.
• Herniated Disc. A herniated disc is when a ruptured disc puts pressure on the nerve and causes pain.
• Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis occurs when the spinal bones (the vertebrae) move out of place. When this happens, it puts pressure on the nerves and causes back pain.

Medical Factors

• Fibromyalgia. This condition subjects the entire body to pain and muscle tenderness. Accompanying symptoms include fatigue, mood swings, memory, and sleep disorders.
• Kidney Stones. The movement of stones from the kidney to the ureter can cause sharp pains in the back.
• Osteoarthritis. Spinal osteoarthritis is a joint disease that triggers the degeneration of the vertebrae and ligaments in the spine.
• Spinal Cancer. It is the growth of a tumor in a person’s spine. This condition is infrequent.
• Osteoporosis. This condition allows bones, including the vertebrae, to become weak, making them more susceptible to fracture.

Symptoms of Back Pain

Back pain symptoms include aching muscles and sharp, stabbing pains when standing, lifting, bending, and even sitting. That much is obvious, but sometimes, it may trigger other conditions and cause extra inconvenience. These conditions include

• Sharp, stabbing pains in the back that doesn't go away with resting and meds.
• Loss of bladder and bowel control.
• Pain below the knees and in the legs.
• Trouble urinating.
• Fever.
• Pain that spreads from the back to the buttocks and hips.
• Weight loss.
• Swelling on the back.
• Numbness near the anus and genital area.

Types of Back Pain

Back pains are classified into three, based on the duration of their symptoms. They are

• Acute Back Pain. This type of pain begins suddenly and lasts for about a month.
• Subacute Back Pain. This pain comes in full force or over time, lasting about three months.
• Chronic Back Pain. Chronic back pain lasts more than three months and causes more problems.

Treatment for Back Pain

There are several ways to treat back pain, depending on the cause and severity of the pain. It can be with home remedies like applying an ice pack to the source of the pain, medical treatments like getting a prescription, or alternative care such as seeing a chiropractor in Glen Carbon.

Home Remedies

• Be Active. Lying in bed for days isn’t the best option; the person must try to keep up with their daily activities. If they can’t, they must try to go on walks daily so that the muscles surrounding the spine remain strong.
• OTC Medications. A person experiencing back pain can take nonprescription painkillers such as Diclofenac and Ibuprofen to deal with the pain.

Medications

• NSAIDs. A person can buy nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without a prescription. They are effective against inflammation and fever and can cause adverse side effects if overused.
• Opioids. It includes morphine and oxycodone are strong, prescription-only painkillers. They are also available as patches.
• Topical Pain Relief Products. These products can be creams, ointments, lotions, or patches. These topicals, when applied to the skin, can block pain sensations.
• Muscle Relaxants. Muscle relaxants are effective for easing muscle contractions. It includes Cyclobenzaprine and Tizanidine, which are known for making consumers drowsy.

Alternative Care

• Physical Therapy. Physical therapists can educate you on techniques to develop flexibility and strengthen the back. These techniques may include the posture and movement appropriate for handling the pain better.
• Spinal Manipulation. This procedure may be employed by an upper cervical chiropractor when a person visits a chiropractic center in Edwardsville or any other authorized professional. These experts deliver a quick thrust to your vertebrae for correction. They use spinal manipulation, among other techniques, to relieve back pain.
• Acupuncture. It is a form of treatment that involves injecting needles into strategic parts of a person’s body. It has a track record of being effective for back pains.

Surgery

If all else fails, surgery can be a person’s last resort. There are various surgeries with their benefits and risks, including ones for intense non-specific back pains or a compressed nerve in the spine. Once the doctor has diagnosed the person, they’ll know the next course of action.

Conclusion

Many people in a household may be experiencing back pain, so a family chiropractor in Glen Carbon may not be a bad idea. Back pain is a common condition that’s hardly life-threatening. Regardless, the pain and discomfort and the ugly change it makes to a posture make it something worth correcting.