Back pain
A huge number of all doctor visits are related to back pain
Back pain is complicated – absence from work is very often caused by back pain. A huge number of all doctor visits are related to back pain and they are the main reason to see an orthopedic specialist.
The search for the exact cause is often difficult
Back pain is complicated. The spine is a highly complex system with different functions. In principle, any structure may trigger pain. Normal aging processes lead to changes in vertebrae, ligaments and intervertebral discs. Stress can lead to painful tension. A sudden jerky movement can lead to brief blockages. The search for the exact cause is often difficult. Frequently, structural changes that can be visualized using imaging procedures are not clearly associated with the individual patients’ pain. Studies have shown that patients without back pain show more wear and tear on the spine than patients with back pain. Therefore, meticulous research for the cause is usually undertaken only if there is evidence of a serious illness or if the pain is irresponsive to a good strengthening program and short-term administration of analgesics.
What does back pain mean for me?
Back pain is always uncomfortable, often unbearable, and sometimes it makes any movement impossible. Hence it has a great influence on the quality of life, partly because it can be frustrating to find a solution. A trip with the family or a meeting with friends can be an ordeal. Fortunately, this pain is usually of short duration.
Strengthen the back is the best therapy
Fortunately, acute back settles within a few days by itself in most cases. Usually it is sufficient to take remedy oneself with heat applications that accelerate the healing. If the pain is more severe, the use of analgesics makes sense to avoid the vicious circle of pain and tension. Additionally, a good program for strengthening your back and abdominal muscles is always a good idea. Well trained core muscles are the best guarantee for a healthy back. But there are alarm signals for a more severe disease: Should the pain be intense, accompanied by numbness, paralysis or even disturbances of bowel or bladder function, you should seek medical attention immediately. Only when pain prevails despite physical therapy and pain medication for more than 6 weeks, it is time to think about taking further actions.