Back Pain
Back pain is very common and can broadly be classified into two categories: radiating back pain and non-radiating back pain.
Radiating back pain means that the pain may start in the back and spread into different areas of the body. Possible causes of radiating back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strains caused by sudden or awkward movement such as heavy lifting or falling
- Radiculopathy caused by compression of the nerve as it leaves the spinal cord, such as sciatica
- Arthritis due to inflammation of a joint
- Fracture from trauma or degeneration such as osteoporosis
- MRI scan, physical therapy, cortisone injections
Treatment options for radiating back pain include:
- Over the counter pain medications
- Warm compress applies to the location of the pain
- MRI scan
- Physical therapy
Non-radiating back pain is going to stay centralized in one area. This type of pain is very common and can be caused by a situation such as:
- Sprain or strain
- Excessive activity
- Degenerative changes
It's very important to ease the pain before it becomes chronic. Don't want back pain to become chronic. With chronic pain, your body continues to send pain signals to your brain, even after an injury making the pain a learned behavior.
Chronic vs. acute pain
When talking about pain, you must first know the difference between chronic pain and acute pain.
- Sudden, but temporary
- The result of a clearly defined cause such as injury, surgery, burn, or cut
- Goes away once healed - less than six months
- Exists beyond the healing process - usually associated with prolonged disease
- Can contribute to disability, anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, poor quality of life
- Lasts beyond healing - more than six months
Pain such as herniated disks and sciatica pain are two forms of back pain. When the pain is affecting your life or you are experiencing weakness in your arm or leg, you should be seen by a provider.
Finding an appropriate pain management plan
When determining an appropriate pain management plan, it is important to take the following steps.
When developing an appropriate pain management plan for chronic pain, the most critical factor is to determine the stressor and the cause of the pain. For example, if you are having back pain - where is the pain coming from? Is it related to your posture? Is it related to stress? Maybe you regularly lift heavy objects?
Once the stressor is identified, short-term interventions may be added to your pain management plan to help ease your pain, so you are comfortable enough to make adjustments to your lifestyle. Medications, injections, or surgery are some options that can help reduce inflammation. It is very important to know that opioids should not be used to treat chronic pain - they are not the answer for this type of pain.
The next step is to make lifestyle adjustments. These may include physical and occupational therapy to increase strength, daily exercise, massage therapy, chiropractic care, etc. Treatment with exercise will provide a long-term pain solution.
Inactivity leads to stiff muscles, decreased mobility, and decreased strength - all of these can worsen the symptoms of chronic pain. Gradually becoming more active will improve flexibility, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the muscles around joints.
Learn more about pain management treatment options by making an appointment at the Pain Clinic. Call 608.357.2525 or complete the short form at the link below.