Back pain seems to be a universal experience. It often gets in the way of enjoying the people and things you love the most. While most back pain goes away on its own, certain situations classify as an emergency.
Knowing when you or a loved one is experiencing emergency back pain is vital to your health and well-being. Read on to learn more about back pain and what you can do to return to the life you love.
What Causes Back Pain and How Do I Treat It?
Back pain can be caused by various reasons. Often, this makes it difficult to know how you got injured. It’s common for athletes or those who live active lifestyles to experience back pain because they’re more prone to injury. However, those who live sedentary lifestyles also experience back pain due to a lack of movement and flexibility.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, back pain becomes more common with age, specifically after age 45. Other common causes of back pain include:
- Arthritis
- Bulging or ruptured disks
- Muscle or ligament strains
- Scoliosis
You may be wondering, how long does back pain usually last? The answer is that it depends. Pain seems to subside for minor injuries in a few days or weeks. More severe injuries take longer to heal and usually require a doctor’s intervention. The good news is that there are plenty of at-home remedies you can include to help relieve pain from minor injuries, including:
- Applying a heating pad or ice pack
- Medications
- Rest
- Stretching
The most important item on this list is rest. Often, people don’t give their backs the proper healing time. In this instance, they return to their regular activities and experience pain, resulting in further injury. Physically giving your body a break and time to heal can be the best cure for acute back pain.
When Is Back Pain an Emergency?
Several symptoms of back pain would classify as a medical emergency, including:
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of consciousness
- Pain that extends from the lower back around to your abdomen
- Sudden numbness in your pelvic region in one or both legs
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately or visit your nearest AdventHealth emergency room.
Who’s at a Higher Risk for Back Pain?
Certain factors may put you at a higher risk of experiencing back pain. These include:
- Age
- Diseases
- Excess weight
- Improper lifting
- Lack of exercise
- Psychological conditions
- Smoking
While some of these factors aren’t preventable, there are certain behaviors you can incorporate into your daily life to reduce the likelihood of experiencing back pain, such as eating a healthier diet, exercising and not smoking.
When to Visit Your Doctor
Knowing when to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) about back pain can make a monumental impact on the implications it has on your life. If you wait too long, symptoms can worsen, which only leads to more suffering. You should see your PCP if your back pain:
- Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in your legs
- Is constant or intense, especially at night or when lying down
- Occurs with swelling or change in skin color on your back
- Occurs with unintended weight loss
- Spreads down one or both legs, especially if it extends below the knee
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to visit your PCP.
Differentiating Your Back Pain
A common question many people ask is how to know if their back pain is muscular or spinal. It can be hard to tell but knowing which type of injury you have is important so you can seek the proper help. Back pain is likely muscular if it:
- Feels like a dull ache
- Feels tender to the touch
- Is accompanied by muscle tightness or knots
- Is localized to a specific area
- Worsens with movement
Symptoms of spinal back pain include:
- Dull ache or sharp pain that shoots down the leg
- Pain in the hip or bottom of the foot
- Pain that comes and goes
- Pain that worsens when bending, lifting, standing or sitting
- Stiffness in the morning
Knowing which type of back pain you have is vital to getting the medical help you need. It’s important to visit your doctor regardless of the reason for your pain, especially if you aren’t sure which type of injury it is.
Getting You Back to What You Love
You deserve to feel whole. That’s why at AdventHealth, we’re dedicated to providing expert care you can count on to feel whole in body, mind and spirit. Visit us here to learn more about our spine care services or to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you get back to what you love.
