One of the most common reasons people in the United States visit doctors is back pain. Now, the catch is that there are different types of back pain, along with their severity. While some people often suffer from slight back pain, others often complain about severe pain that interferes with their daily life. The pain can range from dull to sharp stabbing pain. Since early intervention is possible, it is better to get yourself checked by a professional if there is chronic back pain clinton.
The risk factors of back pain:
According to studies, back pain is prevalent in the US with almost two percent of the people suffering from pain. The major risk factors associated with back pain are lack of exercise, older age, certain medical conditions, being overweight, mental health conditions, and smoking.
The causes of back pain:
Back pain can be caused by several things, including problems with the spine, muscles, and other tissues (local back pain), or radiating from internal problems (radiating back pain). To give you an example of local back pain, it is generally caused by conditions like arthritis, degenerative disk issues, and muscle strains. On the other hand, radiating back pain can happen to those who have kidney stones, infections, or issues specific to gender such as endometriosis or testicular injury.
Diagnosing back pain:
Medical professionals generally diagnose back pain in the initial consultations, and can even ask for X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or EMGs. For a holistic treatment, you can work with your primary health professional along with physical therapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, medical spine providers, or orthopedic specialists. If you are finding it difficult to manage the pain, you may also be referred to a therapist.
Treating back pain:
As for how long it would take to treat your back pain, it usually varies. However, you can try some things at home to prevent severe back pain. This includes using cold packs, heating pads, stretching exercises, massages, or medications.
Final thoughts:
In terms of what your options are for treatments, you can go for surgery, antibiotics, cortisone, physical therapy, muscle relaxants, strengthening exercises, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. If your pain is caused by an injury, you may use hot and cold pads. Of course, there are also over-the-counter pain relievers, and some doctors may prescribe ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve your back pain.
