Back pain is one of the most common health conditions that affects 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Usually, the symptoms of back pain can be troublesome but short-lived and can last for some days. However, your back pain can be chronic if the symptoms have been bothering you for longer than 3 months. While younger adults face back pain majorly due to lifestyle-related causes, elderly people are at risk due to advancing age. It is pivotal to schedule regular health checkup for senior citizens.
What may be giving you back pain?
Strain in the muscles is one of the most common causes of back pain. Factors like incorrect lifting of heavy objects, improper posture, and sudden body movements can lead to muscle strain. While the discomfort from a typical muscle strain can last between three to six weeks, more severe muscle strains can take several weeks or a few months.
Over activity after prolonged periods of inactivity (such as playing a sport once in a while) can also cause temporary stiffness and pain.
Injured discs (tissue that cushion the spaces between each vertebra) is a leading cause of back pain.
Spinal osteoarthritis that occurs due to damage of cartilages of joints in your lower back can lead to back pain.
Thinning of the bone, called osteoporosis, can result in small fractures in your vertebrae which can cause pain. Vitamin D is an important nutrient that can help manage bone thinning. Though there is not enough data, various studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D can be a cause of increased joint and muscle pain. Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men.
Cause of lower back pain
Structural problems: A condition called spinal stenosis happens when the spinal column is too narrow for the spinal cord. Something pinching the spinal cord can cause severe sciatic nerve pain and lower back pain. Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty moving.
Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely. Some people strain their back by sneezing, coughing, twisting or bending over.
Disease: Spine tumors, infections and several types of cancer can cause back pain. Other conditions can cause back pain, too. These include kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Fractures: The bones in the spine can break during an accident, like a car crash or a fall. Certain conditions (such as spondylolysis or osteoporosis) increase the risk of fractures.
Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to cause lower back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis causes lower back pain, inflammation and stiffness in the spine.
Disk problems: Disks cushion the vertebrae (small spinal bones). Disks can bulge from their position in the spine and press on a nerve. They can also tear (herniated disk). With age, disks can get flatter and offer less protection (degenerative disk disease).
When to worry and see a doctor for my back pain?
Seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms accompanies your back pain:
Increasing weakness in your legs
Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
Sudden spike in pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness
High fever
Severe abdominal pain
The pain results from a fall or severe blow to your back.
Here are 4 quick tips to keep back pain away
Along with your back, keep an eye on your overall health as it may result in generalised body ache. Advancing age demands a little extra care. Do not ignore long-standing pain or worsening symptoms, especially in elderly. A full body checkup for senior citizens can be a good starting point to kick off the health journey.1. Safeguard your discs right after waking
Maintain a straight back for an hour or two after waking in the morning. As per some studies, the pressure within your discs increases up to 240% when you sleep at night. At this time, your discs can be at a raised risk of herniation if made to bend or lift forces.
2. Choose your bag wisely
Heavy laptop bags and purses can add unnecessary stress to your neck and back. Carry less (only what is really required) and use bags (backpacks) that have wide straps to distribute the weight more evenly.
3. Invest in an ergonomic office chair, if you are working from home
Many of us may be actually working from bed while working from home. However, not having proper sitting posture and slouching forward during long work hours on laptops lead to excessive pressure on the back and can cause pain. Use a chair that helps you align and support your neck, back and thighs accurately. Take regular stretch breaks in between work.
4. Protect your back while lifting
Common everyday activities, such as unloading heavy grocery bags or lifting a toddler can lead to lower back problems. Bend at your knees, not at your lower back and hold the object close to your chest while keeping your spine straight.
Do I need tests for back pain?
If the cause of your back pain is not very obvious, your treating doctor may advise:
Cbc Haemogram Test
Urine tests (to check for kidney related conditions that can give back pain at certain times).
X-rays, CT, or MRI scans of the spine to assess your discs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels.
Bone scan to look for any aberrations in the bone tissue.
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Good post
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