How to relieve back pain?
It is estimated that up to 70 percent of adults have experienced back pain at some point in their lives. (1) Low back pain is one of the most prevalent types.
The search for new treatments to relieve back pain is a medical urgency.
Determining the causes is one of the most difficult tasks for doctors. The most common are poor posture at work, obesity, being overweight, errors in exercise, and depression. (1)
Low back pain can be mild or very severe. Symptoms depend on their causes, how long treatments have been left on, and a person’s general health.
One of the main causes of lower back pain is poor posture . Spinal abnormalities, along with muscle compensations or physical inactivity are other factors that put additional pressure on the back.
Types of back pain
Although back pain can be felt at all ages, including adolescents and young athletes. It is the older and middle-aged adults who usually have the most serious types.
Treatments to relieve low back pain should be indicated according to the causes. The types of back pain are:
Axial or mechanical pain – This is one of the types of back pain in a particular area or point or point. Muscle tension is one of the most common causes of axial back pain.
Inflammatory pain – Of the types of back pain this is distinguished by dull and chronic symptoms. Inflammatory pain tends to move and vary in intensity. It usually manifests itself in the lower back. The most frequent causes are degenerative diseases of the bones and cartilage.
Radicular pain – This type of back pain has symptoms similar to an electric shock or stabbing pain. Root pain follows the path of the spinal nerve. This type of back pain is caused by compression and inflammation of the spinal nerve root. It usually occurs in the lower back and can go down the leg. It is what is known as pain in sciatica or radiculopathy. One of its causes can be a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis.
Causes and diagnosis
The causes of back pain are usually associated with the accumulation of bad daily habits, genetic predispositions, excessive physical exercise and diseases of the bones and cartilage. The most common causes of back pain are:
1 bad posture
The accumulation of bad daily habits: a bad position when sitting in front of the computer and when sleeping can lead to deviations in the formation of the structure of the spine. Over time the bones become compressed and can affect the nerves, this is the most common cause of sciatica pain.
2 bad movements and overtraining
When doing a bad movement or overtraining, the muscles of the back can be strained. In fact, it is one of the main causes of back pain in athletes.
3.Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the spine is one of the potential causes of back pain. The progressive deterioration of the cartilage in the lower spine can have serious consequences on the health of the back. To prevent this type of pain, it is recommended to take glucosamine and chondroitin or hydrolyzed collagen .
4.Osteoporosis
The progressive loss of bone mass can trigger long-term back pain. This is because it increases the possibility of minor fractures in the bones of the spine. It is one of the most common causes of radicular back pain.
5. Spinal cord infections and spinal abnormalities
While not one of the most common causes, bacterial and fungal infections can cause severe back pain. In case of carrying out any of the traditional back pain treatments and not seeing results, it is recommended to rule out this cause with a doctor. Spinal abnormalities such as spinal stenosis are usually genetic in origin.
Symptoms complementary to back pain:
- Impaired posture
- Loss of mobility
- Numbness of the limbs
- Joint crunch
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Weakness, fatigue
- Pain in the heart and ribs.
- Problems urinating and defecating
Treatments for back pain
The treatments for back pain are various. The most commonly used drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
Not taking the recommended amount of over-the-counter medicine without consulting a doctor can be dangerous. Even these treatments can have serious side effects if taken the wrong way.
In fact, ibuprofen is contraindicated for people with kidney disorders or stomach ulcers. Other treatment options for back pain include:
1. Sodium diclofenac
The diclofenac sodium can be highly effective to reduce back pain. Many of these contain ingredients like ibuprofen and lidocaine, which work better than a placebo when it comes to relieving pain.
2 opioids
Opioids are medicines for the strongest types of back pain. Medications such as oxycodone and acetaminophen work directly on brain cells to reduce pain. However, opioids should be used only in extreme cases due to the high risk of addiction.
3.Orfenadrina
Orphenadrine is also a muscle relaxant that can also be used as treatments for lower back pain. It is effective for the relief of pain associated with skeletal muscle spasm
4.Antidepressants
When the causes of back pain are related to the nervous system, antidepressants and other medications can be used as a treatment for back pain. The most common is amitriptyline.
5 steroids
For severe types of back pain, doctors may prescribe steroid medication for severe back pain. Steroid treatments usually last about 3 months.
Alternative treatments to medications
Be sure to speak with your doctor before undergoing alternative or complementary treatments to medications. If you have back pain, it is very important to study each case before acting. Otherwise the symptoms may be aggravated. Alternative pain treatment options are:
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture for back pain involves inserting very fine needles at various depths at strategic points on the body. It is one of the alternative treatments with the best results in relieving back pain.
2.Myofascial release
The myofascial release is a physiotherapeutic massage technique. The rationale for back pain treatment is to relieve the fascial system, a type of hard connective tissue in the body. By using a foam roller it is possible to release the tension between the muscles and tendons connected to it.
3. Chiropractic
Chiropractic is one of the best back pain treatments. A professional chiropractor can manually adjust the spine. They usually combine other methods and treatments with creams to improve results.
5.Surgery
Surgery is a last resort treatment and is rarely needed for back pain. It is usually one of the methods reserved for structural abnormalities that have not responded to traditional drug and exercise treatments. During surgery, discs and vertebrae can be removed and partially replaced. It is effective in relieving pain caused by degenerative bone diseases.
4.Yoga
The yoga exercises are an excellent way to prevent back pain in older adults. The ideal is to include asanas that include the middle zone, allow to decompress the lower back and strengthen the core.
Back pain is one of the most common conditions on the planet. Non-steroidal drug treatments are able to relieve pain in a matter of weeks. However, finding and attacking the causes is the best method to personalize treatments of the different types
