What Is the Most Common Reason for Back Pain?

There are many types of back pain. The pain can occur along the spine and associated muscles and can vary in intensity. The spine is the major support for the body and protection for the spinal cord. Because of its importance, back pain can be an indicator of damage and if it is left untreated it can be the start of permanent pain or nerve damage.
 
Back pain can be sudden or continual. If the pain is sudden, it is usually temporary. If it is chronic, it can come and go and affect everyday activities.
 
Back pain can be caused by the following:
– Muscle strains
– Muscle injury
– Herniated discs
– Pinched or compressed nerves
– Fractures of vertebrae
– Narrowing of the spinal canal
– Osteoporosis
– Osteoarthritis
– Spondylitis
– Tumors
– Scoliosis
– Degenerated discs
 And more…

Somatic pain is a pain in the muscles, bones, or soft tissues. Visceral pain is pain that comes from your blood vessels and internal organs. Somatic or muscle pain is intense and fairly easy to pinpoint. This is because the soft tissues have many nerves that detect pain.
 
Internal pain is more difficult to identify because the organs do not have as many nerves that detect pain. Internal pain can be vague or have an aching feeling.
 
If you can connect your back pain to a specific activity or event and the pain goes away in a few days after resting and applying ice, it is probably muscle pain. If the pain comes on gradually or doesn’t go away it may require medical attention. If your pain doesn’t go away, the problem may be serious.
 
Some things that you will want to keep in mind when dealing with back pain are the following:

– If your pain is a sharp pain, then it is probably a torn muscle or ligament. It could be an issue with an organ in the back or side.

– If you have pain that shoots out to the buttocks or legs, this could be caused by nerve compression and would require medical help.

– If you have weakness in the legs, it could be caused by spinal compression and will need medical attention.

– Back pain that is present with the loss of bladder or bowel control will require medical attention.

– If you feel pins and needles or numbness in the groin or buttocks, this is a sign of serious nerve damage or a spine condition.
 
If you have incontinence, weakness, and numbness at the same time, you might have cauda equina syndrome. This is a serious condition characterized by nerve damage and is a medical emergency.

This may seem counter-intuitive, but resting too much will not make back pain go away. It can make your pain worse and cause other complications. Don’t rest for more than a couple of days. It is best to get up and start moving again, slowly. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to get rid of back pain.
 
At the immediate onset of muscle pain in the back alternate between heat and ice. Start with applying a cold pack or ice several times a day for about 20 minutes. After a couple of days, apply heat to relax the muscles and increase blood flow to the area.
 
If you are having problems with your back, call Hudson Sport & Spine for help. We understand the spine and our caring team can get you back to your regular activities. We serve patients from Hoboken NJ, Jersey City NJ, Weehawken NJ, West New York NJ, Guttenberg NJ, Secaucus NJ, Harrison NJ, Kearny NJ, Newark NJ, Belleville NJ, North Bergen NJ, and Lyndhurst NJ.