| Back Pain Symptoms & Treatment | | | | Back pain is usually confined to the lower back, but it |
| Here's one problem you can't turn your back on! But | | | | may extend to other areas, particularly the legs. |
| you can get some relief from knowing that very few | | | | Affected parts of the back may feel tender or sore |
| people turn out to have a major problem or a | | | | to the touch and the pain may increase with |
| dangerous medical condition involving the bones or | | | | movement. Pain can be felt as sharp of knife-like, a |
| joints of the back. In fact, often the exact cause of | | | | burning sensation or as a dull muscular ache. |
| a person's back pain can't be pinpointed exactly. Many | | | | Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to |
| causes result from everyday activities and clear up | | | | completely disabling. |
| by themselves within a relatively short time period. | | | | Treatment |
| Whether your back pain requires a doctor's care or | | | | Most episodes of mild back pain will improve without |
| not, chances are you'll be "back" to normal in no time. | | | | any medical intervention. Over the counter |
| Back pain may be blamed on poor muscles tone in | | | | medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen |
| the back, muscle tension or spasm, back strains, | | | | can provide temporary relief. It's a good idea to |
| ligament or muscle tears, bone weakness and/or joint | | | | avoid overly strenuous or repetitive activity, but bed |
| problems. If you have a so called "slipped disc" in | | | | rest should generally be avoided. In fact, numerous |
| your spinal column, you may suffer buttock of leg | | | | clinical trials have confirmed that continued activity |
| pain, numbness, tingling of weakness in the bones of | | | | and prescribed exercises reduce back discomfort and |
| legs due to irritation of nerves from the spinal cord. | | | | result in more rapid recovery. Exercise and healthy |
| Emotional stress of long periods of inactivity may | | | | diet can be followed to make bones healthy. In |
| worsen back pain. | | | | addition, a good exercise program may help prevent |
| People in poor physical condition (including obesity) or | | | | recurrence-common with back pain. Check with your |
| those who do work that includes heavy labor or long | | | | doctor if your symptoms worsen or don't improve |
| periods of sitting or standing have a higher risk of | | | | rapidly. |
| developing low back problems; they also get better | | | | Other helpful back pain treatments include physical |
| more slowly. | | | | therapy, massage and spinal manipulation. In addition, |
| Occasionally back pain can be due to other conditions. | | | | a panel from the National Institutes of Health has |
| These include arthritis, ulcers or other intestinal | | | | concluded that acupuncture may be useful as one |
| problems, kidney disease, pregnancy or other | | | | form of treatment in a comprehensive management |
| gynecological conditions, heart diseases, bone injuries | | | | program for back pain. Surgical treatment of back |
| and cancer. If back pain seems unrelated to an injury | | | | pain is dictated but by the type of structural problem |
| or activity, or is in any other way unusual, a visit to | | | | that is causing the pain. In some cases, surgery can |
| the doctor is recommended. | | | | be a highly effective option. |
| Symptoms | | | | |