Back Pain Overview
Back pain occurring in the lower back is also called low back pain which has become a major health concern for Americans as 90 per cent of them are found to be suffering it once in their life. It is considered as a symptom and not specific disease because it may be an outcome of different processes. The specific cause for back in about 85 per cent of people could not be identified even as they went through overall medical check up.
However, 90% of people and also others facing irritation in nerve root may experience improvement of symptoms within two months irrespective of the treatment they are undergoing. Back pain is usually considered as acute when it lasts for less then a month but when it prolongs further it can be called as a chronic problem.
The lumbosacral area, located in the lower portion of the back becomes painful.
The front, side and back portions of leg also become painful.
Indulgence in activity intensifies pain.
The pain becomes intolerable during night or after prolonged sitting on one position such as in a car for a long trip.
Part of leg becomes numb or weak.
Who are at risk?
Smokers
Obese persons
Old people
Female gender
Those performing strenuous and stressful jobs
Those adopting sedentary lifestyle
Anxious and depressed persons
Treatments for Back Pain
Self-Care at Home
While sleeping, lie on one side by placing a pillow between your knees. This will make you feel comfortable. You can also lie on you back by placing pillow between your knees.
There are no back exercises that are specifically found to be helpful in improvement of pain or increase in the functional ability in case of acute back pain. However, it will be possible for those having chronic back pain to resume normal activities with the help of exercise.
Non prescription medications
You can get instant relief from low back pain by taking Ibuprofen which is available as Avil, Nuprin or Motrin. However, Ibuprofen should be taken only for a short term because the prolonged use of this treatment may cause serious health problems like ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Tylenol, which is available as Acetaminophen, can effectively relieve pain much in the same way as ibuprofen.
You may also adopt treatment with “deep heating rubs” which are the topical agents. However, it is not certain whether use of such topical agents can be effective or not.
You can consider using ice or heat to get relief from back pain. Though use of ice or heat has not yet been proved as effective treatment, yet they do not cause any harm.
