Do you know that back pain is both the most common and the least understood form of pain? One out of ten people suffer from back trouble at least once in their lifetime. This is why having a thorough knowledge of your body, and its functioning can help you make quick decisions regarding your health, especially when it comes to your back.
Many individuals suffer from long-term back pain. Sometimes, it becomes so unbearable that even walking is difficult – let alone doing anything else. The most effective way for individuals to alleviate long-term back pain is to know when to visit a spine specialist. Here are some signs that it is probably time to see a professional:
You Experience Chronic Pain with No Relief
When you’ve been experiencing discomfort, stiffness, or numbness in your back, but all the medications and treatments that you have tried have not had any effect, then it could be that there’s something more going on than just a simple health issue. This is where immediate attention and care from a physician are required.
You Experience Shooting Pains in Your Body
Shooting pains, which often feel like electricity running through your nerves – can sometimes be triggered by a pinched nerve. Medications and treatments can ease this type of pain – but if treatment fails, then you must immediately see a spine specialist. A chiropractor can help identify and pinpoint the cause of your pain through diagnostic tests such as MRIs and CT scans before it develops into something more serious. Prompt treatment decreases the likelihood of complications later on.
You Have Persistent Back Pain
Although back pain is one of the most common types of pain, spine-related pains can feel quite unique. For example, people who have a spine injury or a spine condition may experience:
- Acute shooting pain.
- A stinging, burning sensation.
People with a spine condition may have backaches constantly without any relief, even when resting. With this type of condition, it can be difficult to complete daily tasks such as getting out of bed or putting your pants on in the morning.
If you do not know what sort of spine-related pain you have, it is a good idea to get the opinion of your spine specialist physiotherapist.
Your Posture Has Changed
Back pain sufferers are known to have slumped shoulders, stooped backs, and tilted heads. Chiropractors can identify conditions associated with your body symmetry, whereby they determine whether or not one side of your body is different from the other. Many patients who suffer from back problems such as herniated disc often experience body asymmetry.
You’re Constantly Tired and Fatigued
It’s crucial that you take time out of your busy schedule to get into a routine of exercising regularly. This is because back pain sufferers tend to lose their stamina very quickly – they often complain about how they cannot perform even the simplest tasks without feeling exhausted. Often, a lack of physical activity makes the problem worse.
If you are experiencing any one or more of the symptoms above, then make it a point to reach out for medical experts’ help immediately. They know how to help their patients recover from these debilitating conditions. Don’t wait any longer – make the right first step today and reach out to a specialist immediately. Chiropractors work on improving patients’ mobility by adjusting their body alignment to help them recover faster. This can help to strengthen muscles which form an essential part in keeping one healthy and strong. As well, chiropractors can also advise lifestyle changes, diet, and other exercises that one must avoid such that he or she could lead a healthy life without pain.
The Most Common Causes of Back Pain
Many people think that back pain is caused only by a sudden injury or accident. Although injuries or accidents are two of the most common causes of back pain, it is important to note that back discomfort can also be caused by other factors.
Ligament or muscle strain are two common triggers of back pain. When a ligament is pulled or a muscle tears, it can be excruciating and can also cause severe backache. Ligaments are the tissues in your body that connect bones. Ligaments have a vital role to play as they keep joints together so that these components of the body can move quickly without causing any injury to our bodies.
Muscles work along with these ligaments to ensure smooth motion at all times, even during physical activity such as lifting or carrying heavy objects. In order to ensure that our muscles and ligaments stay healthy, it is crucial that we do exercises correctly, eat a balanced diet without missing out on fruits or vegetables, and maintain proper posture.
When your back muscles and ligaments are not working correctly due to injury, genetics, or any other reason, you will experience back pain which might radiate down from your neck and towards other parts of your body.
Below are some other common reasons why people suffer from spine pain.
Obesity
An individual who is obese is overweight and carries too much fat around his or her body’s trunk, including his or her abdomen, back, and chest. An individual who is obese often experiences severe backaches, among other problems. This is because when someone carries too much weight on his/her spine, it causes the discs between individual bones to wear out quickly, forcing our body into poor posture. Those who want to shed some extra pounds should consult a dietician first before starting an exercise routine or diet, to ensure that they are able to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes gradually.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become weak and brittle. It can cause severe backache because one’s spine starts to wear out as a result of osteoporosis. In addition, those who have osteoporosis can experience backache due to bone fractures.
To prevent osteoporosis, eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking, or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. As well, make sure to consult with a spine specialist immediately if you think you might have a bone-related problem so he or she can provide you with an effective treatment plan.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve from one side to another. If this happens, it puts pressure on other vertebrae along your spine, causing them to wear out. Scoliosis can also cause severe backache and stomach problems due to prominent ribs.
In order to treat scoliosis, Chiropractors will usually prescribe a series of exercises which encourages the strengthening of the core muscles. Chiropractors might also prescribe medication alongside exercise, such as NSAIDs, which gives relief from pain while strengthening the muscles.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the vertebrae slip forward towards the front of your body. This can cause severe pressure on your lumbar spine, which weakens your core muscles even more. Because of this, it would be difficult for you to maintain proper posture throughout the day, which would cause pain in different parts of your back.
Spondylolisthesis can be genetic. Oftentimes, when diagnosed early, individuals can take steps to delay the onset of this condition. Exercising is one effective way to postpone effects of spondylolisthesis. It is recommended that you consult with a chiropractor before starting an exercise routine since specific exercises can worsen the condition. It might also help to hire a personal trainer who will monitor how well you’re doing with your exercise routine.
Abnormal Curvature of the Spine
An abnormal curvature of the spine is also known as scoliosis. This condition is often caused by genetic factors, but it can also occur due to age-related changes in our bodies. Scoliosis causes your back to curve towards the left or right side at a significant degree, and can worsen if untreated over long periods.
Unfortunately, If you have been diagnosed with scoliosis before, chances are you might develop it again, especially if there is no one monitoring it. Hence, it is important to monitor the health of your back and to see medical treatment immediately should you have any concerns.
Back doctors usually prescribe exercises for core muscle strengthening instead of surgery, unless one’s condition is progressing too quickly. In such instances, surgery is recommended, rather than taking chances with other types of treatment.
Abnormal curvature of the spine can easily be detected by a chiropractor through the use of special techniques. A chiropractor will place his or her hands behind your back to determine whether your spine is curved. He or she will also do a thorough examination from different angles to check how severe the condition is if there are other complications which might require surgery or not.
Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, which is located in the lower back, gets pressed. This causes shooting pain down your legs, weakness in muscles of one leg, tingling sensation in the buttocks, and even problems with bowel movement. Sciatica is mainly caused by herniated discs pressing on nerves. As well, it can also be caused by anatomical defects within your body, obesity, lack of exercise, and pregnancy.
Doctors usually prescribe bed rest and pain medications for sciatica. They might also prescribe exercises to help strengthen core muscles instead of surgery. Unless one’s sciatica is very severe, strengthening core muscles is usually quite effective in alleviating discomfort.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is also known as a slipped disc or a ruptured disc. This condition occurs when there is a sudden impact or accident which causes parts of your spine to press into each other. In these scenarios, you might experience excruciating pain, numbness, and tingling sensation throughout your back and down your legs, and sometimes even problems with breathing if this is not treated immediately.
If you suspect that you might have a herniated disk, it is important to visit a back specialist as soon as possible. He or she will most likely recommend that you strengthen your core muscles, starting with more straightforward exercises before moving on to more advanced ones. Unfortunately, a herniated disc can become so severe that surgery becomes the only option left.
Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Osteoarthritis mainly occurs after one has experienced an accident afflicting the hips, knees, or spine due. This condition causes inflammation of the cartilage around the bones. Eventually, the affected cartilage will wear out, forcing our bodies to replace them with bone tissues gradually. After a while, stiffness in the joints will set in and you will experience pain every now and then.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition which causes an individual to experience pain throughout his or her body, especially in the neck and spine area. An individual may also notice that he or she cannot sleep well at night without waking up feeling like his or her whole back is burning all over.
Conclusion
Whenever you feel pain anywhere in your body, it’s important that you consult with your doctor as soon as possible. Your physician will be able to determine the perfect treatment plan for you and your specific condition.
If necessary, your doctor might refer you to a chiropractor. Since they are trained professionals who know precisely how much pressure each part of our body can handle, you can rest easy knowing that you are in good hands. It is never safe to go to unqualified individuals for medical treatments, especially for those involving your back.
Doing exercises while in constant pain isn’t good either, since workouts might make you feel even more exhausted. Whenever you start experiencing pain, you should stop exercising immediately and try to manage it through pain medication or alternative methods such as acupuncture. If your condition does not improve, seek medical advice immediately.
