What to Do When You Get Back Pain?

Back pain is the most common problem and also a major cause of medical expenses. Back pain is usually preventable, but 4 out of 5 Americans experience it at some time in their lives. It is because your lower back supports most of your weight.

Structure of Your Back

The integrity of vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks decides the stability of your lower back. Every human has 24 and 25 bones in and around the back, including neck and chest areas. Ligaments and muscles hold them together. Any problem in the major nerves and in the disks and joints that guide the spine movement can cause back pain.

What Causes Back Pain?

The following are the major causes of back pain

• Sprain of the ligaments
• Straining the muscles
• Rupture of the disks
• Irritation in the joints
• Sports or traumatic accidents
• Arthritis
• Congenital disorders
• Poor posture
• Obesity
• Psychological problems due to stress
• Internal problems like kidney stones, kidney infections, bone loss, or blood clots.

However, the two facts you nave to consider - the simplest wrong body movements can cause back pain and even the modern technology can help find out the exact reason or cause of back pain that too in very few people.

What Can Treat Back Pain?

Drugs: Drugs can effectively treat back pain and avoid discomfort. But these medications can have side effects. Over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce the back pain. In case of severe pain prescription medications such as meperidine (Demerol) are of great help. Due to the availability of effective NSAIDs there is no need for narcotics. However, all NSAIDs cause gastrointestinal bleeding. So, those suffering from other medical conditions have to consult their doctors to know other treatment options for their back pain.

Bed Rest Alone Cannot Save

It is a common idea for many people that one week of bed rest is enough to put back pain at bay. But that's not true. After one week of rest you need to two weeks to rehabilitate. The best step is - take one-day bed rest and begin exercising. Exercises hydrate your disks and cure back pain.

Surgical Procedures

Health specialists recommend back surgery only for certain conditions after other treatments fail. Surgical procedures such as Intervertebral Body Fusion device, Posterior Spinal Implant and Anterior Spinal Implant can treat back pain and strengthen the spine. Implantable spinal cord stimulation devices help in treating chronic pain of the trunk and limbs.

Acupuncture and Massage Therapy

Acupuncture and massage therapy are centuries-old healing techniques that can work effectively for treating back pain. Get these treatments from professional therapists.