Back Pain - Here are some questions to consider when diagnosing your back pain.

 Back Pain

How do I know if my back pain is serious?

You need to find out if your back pain is serious and what kind of pain it is before trying to treat it yourself. You may want to consult a chiropractor or other healthcare professional who specializes in treating people with joint issues. If you have had back problems in the past, you should tell your doctor about any changes in your condition or any injuries you might have sustained. A physical therapist or massage therapist could also help you diagnose the problem and determine how severe the injury is.

 

If you think your back pain comes from a sports-related injury, you may need to get medical attention right away. Your doctor may recommend a physician assistant or nurse practitioner who works under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. These types of professionals work closely with doctors and often provide care similar to that provided by physicians.

 

Here are some questions to consider when diagnosing your back pain.

What causes the pain?

Back pain comes in many forms. It may feel like a sharp, burning sensation along the spinal cord. Or it may feel like cramping or stiffness across the spine. The pain may start gradually and worsen over time. Pain that occurs with certain movements, including lifting something heavy, twisting, bending, standing, walking, or sitting, suggests that the pain is caused by muscles or joints.

 

Does your pain change?

The intensity of pain symptoms varies greatly from person to person. Sometimes pain increases with movement and sometimes it decreases. If your pain worsens at night, wakes you up, or makes it difficult for you to move around normally, it's likely to be related to a nerve issue. Pain that doesn't subside after an initial bout is more concerning than pain that goes away after a short period of time.

 

Do you experience numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of feeling in your legs?

Unusual sensations in the lower extremities, especially below the knees, suggest that your nerves may be involved. Numbness can occur in specific areas, such as the leg, foot, or toes. Tingling is the perception of tiny electrical shocks along the skin. Weakness means that your muscle power is diminished. Loss of feeling means that you don't sense touch or temperature in parts of your body.

 

Is your pain accompanied by pain elsewhere in your body?

Back pain can cause other uncomfortable feelings in different parts of the body. When your back hurts, you may feel tired, stiff, nauseated, dizzy, or weak. In addition, you may experience anxiety, depression, or mood swings.

 

Can you identify where the pain is located?

Your physician will ask you to describe exactly where you feel the pain. He or she may use special equipment to locate the exact location of the pain using pressure points, vibrations, sound waves, or electromagnetic fields.

 

What are the main causes of back pain?

Muscle Spasm

Muscle spasms, also known as trigger points, are abnormal muscle contractions that cause local tenderness, sensitivity, and often, pain. Trigger points are caused by micro-trauma to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves. When these small injuries happen repeatedly over time, they can lead to the formation of trigger points. If left untreated, these trigger points can become chronic and may eventually turn into a painful condition called myofascial pain syndrome. Chronic myofascial pain is characterized by localized or generalized tightness, stiffness, and soreness.

 

Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive capsulitis is a condition where the soft tissue around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and stiffens. This makes the shoulder joint less mobile, causing it to lock up. In its worst cases, adhesive capsulitis can make it nearly impossible for a patient to perform routine activities and even sleep comfortably. While many people experience some level of discomfort due to adhesive capsulitis, the condition usually only affects those over 40 years old.

 

Tendinitis

Tendinitis occurs when tendon fibers swell and harden. Tendinitis is commonly associated with repetitive motions, such as playing sports and typing at a computer. It’s most common in the shoulders, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, and neck. Symptoms include soreness, swelling, weakness, numbness, tingling, and lack of mobility.

 

Disc Disease

Disc disease (also known as spinal stenosis) is a term used to describe conditions that narrow the space between two adjacent vertebrae in your spine. As a result, pressure builds up inside your spine, leading to nerve root compression. This can then manifest as sciatica, leg pain, and sometimes lower back pain.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative arthritis, is a type of arthritis that develops when cartilage begins to deteriorate and bone starts to rub against bone. The end result is the wearing down of the bones and joints of the body, causing pain and disability.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the synovial lining of the joints. These attacks cause inflammation and destruction of the cartilage and bone in the affected joints. RA symptoms can begin gradually and progress slowly, or develop suddenly.

 

Sciatica

Sciatica is a medical condition in which the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated. The pain radiates along the length of your leg, and it may feel like you have a pulled muscle. It’s often worse when standing and walking, although it does not necessarily go away when lying down.

 

How do you relieve pain in your back?

Hydration

It's not enough to simply stay well-hydrated. You need to drink water at high volumes throughout the day--this means drinking a minimum of 2 liters (48 ounces) per day. Make sure you're getting adequate amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B12 to help fight inflammation and relax muscles. Water helps flush out toxins, reduces swelling, and supports the body's natural healing processes.

 

Sleep

Sleep is just as important as hydration! Getting sufficient sleep is critical for the body's repair system -- especially after being awake and active for several days straight! When your body isn't rested, you'll be more susceptible to illness. Sleep is often the first thing sacrificed when we get busy, and it can take time to recover afterwards. Make sure you get enough rest!

 

Exercise

Exercise keeps our joints limber and flexible, stimulates brain activity, and promotes weight loss. Walking is the best exercise for beginners, but try different exercises -- yoga, pilates, kickboxing, etc. - to find what works for you!

 

Stress Management

Stress causes our bodies to produce chemicals called cytokines, which cause chronic inflammation. Inflammation can lead to pain and other conditions, including headaches, fatigue, and arthritis. Chronic inflammation can even increase the risk of cancer. In order to keep stress away from your body, make time every day to practice mindfulness meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, biofeedback, massage therapy, acupuncture, and hypnosis.

 

Nutrition

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, avocado, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seed, and hemp seed. Omega-3s reduce inflammation and relieve muscle soreness and stiffness. Foods containing probiotics, fiber, and prebiotics promote gut health and improve digestion, while antioxidants strengthen cellular structures. Vitamins C and E boost immunity, while zinc aids in wound healing and boosts libido.

 

Herbal remedies

Herbs have been used for centuries to treat various ailments. Many herbs are anti-inflammatory and analgesic, making them great for reducing pain and inflammation. A few examples include turmeric, ginger rhizome, cayenne pepper, rosemary, sage, basil, oregano, chamomile, marjoram, mint, lavender, fennel, and lemon balm.

 

Massage

Massaging your back and other aches and pains can be helpful. Try using a heating pad or hot stones to stimulate circulation and loosen tight muscles. Apply deep pressure with your thumbs, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, heels, or toes. If you prefer, you can use oils or lotions to provide extra moisturizing and comfort.

 

Back pain conclusion

Marijuana

Marijuana helps reduce back pain due to the natural painkillers contained in marijuana called cannabinoids. These compounds have been known to help relieve pain and increase mobility. Cannabinoids may work by interacting directly with receptors located throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the endocannabinoid system (ECS). These receptors are activated by various chemicals including neurotransmitters, hormones, and drugs. There are two cannabinoid receptors in humans named CB-1 and CB-2. The CB-1 receptor is present primarily in brain cells while the CB-2 receptor is localized primarily in immune and gastrointestinal cells. The CB-1 receptors are stimulated by both exogenous (marijuana) and endogenous cannabinoids, while the CB-2 receptors only respond to endocannabinoids.

 

Baking Soda & Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are great remedies for back pain because they activate the ECS pathway and stimulate the release of endorphins. Endomorphines are naturally occurring opiates that act similarly to morphine and produce similar effects. They are released in greater amounts after physical activity, sexual arousal, childbirth, eating, laughter, falling asleep, or any situation that makes us feel good. Endorphins can affect the way we perceive pain and cause us to want to experience pleasure. The body produces endorphins naturally, however, over time these levels decrease causing chronic pain. By using baking soda and vinegar, the ECS pathway is activated, increasing the production of endorphins. A study published in Clinical Pharmacology revealed that ingesting three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda twice per day could alleviate back pain symptoms.

 

Hot Compresses

Hot compresses are a safe and effective way to ease sore muscles, joints, and muscles without taking any medications. In addition, hot water is able to penetrate deeper into muscle tissue than cold water. When applied to the skin, hot water increases blood flow, increases circulation, and decreases inflammation. Applying a hot compress to the area may make the affected muscle spasm less and allow the pain to dissipate. Hot compresses should never be applied to broken skin. If applying a hot compress to a certain area causes discomfort, discontinue use immediately.

 

Deep Tissue Massage

Massages stimulate blood flow and improve lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage refers to the flow of lymph fluid through the lymph nodes and tissues. These nodes carry toxins out of the bloodstream and carry away excess fluids and protein from the body. By stimulating lymphatic drainage, deep tissue massage aids in flushing toxins from the body and encourages the body to heal properly.

 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles in specific points along the body to stimulate and balance the body's internal organs and systems. Studies show that acupuncture relieves pain and promotes healing. Additionally, acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphin and serotonin, which also reduces pain. Another study showed that women who received acupuncture experienced relief of menstrual cramps. Because it affects the ECS pathway, acupuncture may be helpful in reducing chronic back pain.

 

Warm Water Therapy

Warm water therapy is a simple technique that requires no equipment and can be done anywhere. Simply fill a bathtub with warm water and soak for 15 minutes. To complete this treatment, lie down in the tub and relax. As the water warms, it penetrates further into the body allowing it to reach more parts of the body.

 

Rolfing

Rolfing is a type of bodywork performed by practitioners called Rolfer. It uses gentle traction to stretch and lengthen connective fibrous structures like ligaments and tendons. This stretching releases tension and tightness and loosens adhesions or scar tissue that may prevent the proper functioning of the body. After performing Rolfing, patients report feeling relaxed and refreshed. Research shows that Rolfing is generally well tolerated and considered safe.