At some point in our lives, most of us will suffer from back pain. It’s in the nature of our bodies, which were originally suited for walking on four legs rather than two. Standing on two legs forces our backs to curve into a shape that puts more pressure on certain parts of the back than standing on two would; particularly the lower back, or lumbar region, and the neck area, or thoracic vertebrae.
Most back pain is a result of a pulled muscle or sprained ligament, usually caused by twisting or bending in an awkward manner. Only rarely is back pain an indication of an underlying problem and in the vast majority of cases the pain can be treated at home. If, however, you experience loss of bladder or bowel control, you should see your doctor immediately, to rule out another more serious condition.
One of the conditions that may need further treatment is ankylosing spondylitis, where some of the neck vertebrae or spinal discs can become fused when extra bone is laid down between them. This is a very uncomfortable condition, and can impact on the rest of the spine because it usually results in a stooped posture, which puts more pressure on other areas of the back. Others include spinal stenosis and sciatica, both of which you may experience as pain in the legs as well as the back, a fractured bone (which you will probably be aware of as soon as it happens), arthritis (in which case you will probably have similar pain in other parts of your body) and various degenerative spinal disk problems such as a bulging or slipped disk (also disc herniation).
However, if the pain in your back has come on recently and you are not aware of an accident or injury that has caused it, doctors will likely find it difficult to diagnose in the first few weeks; the reason is that soft tissue does not show up on an x-ray, which is the doctor’s first option for diagnosis. If your doctor suspects the underlying cause of the pain may be a trapped nerve or spinal stenosis, he or she may use a CT or MRI scan to identify the problem. If he or she suspects arthritis, however, an x-ray may well be recommended.
Since most cases of back pain do not indicate any further cause of worry, it’s usually best to treat them at home for the first few weeks and only see your doctor if the pain does not improve. Home treatment will usually require rest for a day or two, but too long a rest may simply exacerbate the problem, as the muscles supporting your back will weaken.
As soon as it is possible to do so, even if movement is uncomfortable, try to get back into your normal routine, while still taking care not to make jerky twisting or otherwise awkward movements. A light exercise regime, including stretching and weight-bearing exercises, will usually help you to regain normal mobility within a few weeks. If it does not within about six weeks, that is the time to make an appointment with your doctor.
