Back pain is the main reason most people seek medical treatment or fail to show up to work; besides, it is also the leading cause of disability worldwide.
It can either result from an injury, an activity, or a medical condition. Back pain affects people of all ages for different reasons, but as people get older, their chances of back pain may increase due to degenerative disk disease or their previous occupation.
Fortunately, their measures that you can take to relieve or prevent back pain. Home treatment and somebody’s mechanics will take care of your back pain within a few weeks, and your back can function correctly. You do not need surgery for back pain.
Types of Back pain
Your back and spine region is divided into different regions, the lumbar region, thoracic region, and cervical region. There are different types of back pain and may include
- Thoracic back pain
- Middle back pain
- Lumbar back pain
Causes of back pain
The human back is made up of complex structures such as the ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and disks; they all work together to enable the body’s normal functioning. Any problem with these structures can lead to pain in your back. At times the causes may be unclear, but some may include this
- Muscle spasm or tension
- Damaged disks
- Strained ligaments or muscles
- Injuries, falls, or fractures
- Aged disks
- Bulging or raptured risks
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney problems
Some activities such as lifting something heavy or improperly or making an abrupt movement can lead to strains or spasms.
Back pain can also be caused by adopting some movement or posture patterns that your body is not used to such as:
- Twisting
- Coughing or sneezing
- Sitting or standing for long periods
- Overstretching
- Staining your neck forward when using your computer or driving
Symptoms of back pain
The main symptom is experiencing pain or aches anywhere in your back; sometimes, you may feel it down to your buttocks or legs. The pain can be accompanied by
- Swelling or inflammation in your back
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Pain that reaches your knee or down your legs
- Numbness around your anus, genitals, or buttocks
- Unable to control your bladder or bowel.
There is some first aid for severe back pain, and it includes applying heat or ice before visiting our 24-hour emergency room.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you are experiencing the mentioned above symptoms, visit our emergency room in Temple. Your doctor will diagnose the problem after asking about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam. Imaging scans such as x-rays, CT scans, MRI, and bone scans can be ordered to show your back or spine’s detailed information.
If you are diagnosed with back pain at our er near you, your doctor will prescribe medications or therapy for mild back pain. Some complement therapies may also be used to alleviate back pain and help the patient relax. They include chiropractic, shiatsu, osteopathy, yoga, and acupuncture.
Surgery can only be done if the patient has a herniated disk, especially if the pain is accompanied by nerve compression, which may weaken the muscles. The types of surgeries include fusion, discectomy, inserting a disk, or partially removing a vertebra.
At our ER for back pain, your doctor will advise you on how to lower the risk of having back pain by exercising, Diet, taking food rich in calcium or vitamin K for strong bone formation, avoiding smoking, and many more
What will urgent care do for back pain?
Many people ask if it is okay to visit urgent care when you have back pain, an urgent care can assess your pain and determine if it is caused by medical conditions or problems with your spine. They can also discuss the available treatment options. Urgent care and an emergency room have the same functions, and they will quickly respond to your problem
What are the risk factors?
The following factors can increase your risk of having back pain,
- Pregnancy
- Excess weight or obesity
- Older age
- Occupational activities
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- Stress and anxiety
- Poor physical fitness
- Genetic factors
- Underlying medical conditions such as kidney problems, arthritis, or cancer.
