Lower Back Pain Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments
Back Pain
Back pain is a common complaint. Most of the people experience low back pain at least one time during their lifetime. Back pain is second common cold as an affliction of mankind and it is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work.
Causes of Back Pain
Most episodes of back pain are caused by mechanical disorders associated with overuse of the back and spine, or the gradual changes associated with aging. In approximately 10 % of the cases, lower back pain is caused by a systemic illness.
Mechanical disorders that can result in back pain include:
- Muscle strains
- Osteoarthritis
- Herniated intervertebral disc
- Spinal stenosis
Systemic disorders that can lead to back pain include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Osteoporosis
- Tumors
- Spinal infections
Diagnosis
Typically, only a physical examination and medical history are required to diagnosis low back pain.
In some cases, individuals who do not respond to initial therapy may need specialized radiographic tests, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) which are available in hospitals to screen for additional involvement of soft tissues, ruptured discs, spinal stenosis, tumors or nerve injuries.
Treatment
Back pain should not be equated with a need for bed rest. Actually, bed rest should be kept to a minimum. Instead, patients should continue on their activities of daily life.
Even though excessive exercise should be discontinued until the pain is relieved, there are exercises that can help reduce pain.
Many recent effective drugs are now available to treat and prevent the progress of that disease.
