What does it mean to “injure your back?” Your back is made of bones, muscles and other tissues extending from your neck to your pelvis. Back injuries can result from playing sports, working around the house or in the garden, low- or high-speed car accidents, lifting heavy objects or a fall. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
Back pain can range from a muscle aching to a shooting, burning or stabbing sensation. In addition, the pain may radiate down your leg or worsen with bending, twisting, lifting, standing or walking. Because back pain is so common, numerous products promise prevention or relief. But there’s no definitive evidence that special shoes, shoe inserts or back supports can help.
The lower back is the most common site of back injuries and back pain. Common back injuries include
Sprains and strains: When you overstretch a muscle in your back or tear a ligament, the area around the muscles will usually become inflamed. The inflammation leads to a back spasm, and it is the back spasm that can cause both severe lower back pain and difficulty moving. This is because the spasm immobilizes the muscles in the injured area, acting as a splint to protect the ligaments and joints from further damage.
Herniated discs: When a patient has a symptomatic herniated disc, the disc itself is not painful but rather the material leaking out of the inside of the disc is pinching or irritating a nearby nerve. This type of pathology produces radicular pain (for example, nerve root pain), leading to pain that may radiate to other parts of the body, such as from the low back down the leg or from the neck down the arm.
Fractured vertebrae: Fractures range from simple compression fractures, in which the bone collapses upon itself, getting pushed together; to burst fractures, when pieces of bone explode out into the tissues around the spine, including the nerves and spinal cord. The worst of these injuries is called fracture-dislocation, in which the bone breaks but, because the ligaments are torn as well, the bones slide away from each other.
Other Causes Include:
– Muscle or ligament strain
– Bulging or ruptured disks
– Arthritis
– Osteoporosis
These injuries can cause pain and limit movement. Treatments include many different conservative modalities, including medicines, icing, bed rest and physical therapy, and interventions that include steroid injections or surgery. You might be able to prevent some back injuries by maintaining a healthy weight, keeping a strong core and using proper body mechanics while lifting objects with your legs.
Rick Factors
– Age
– Lack of exercise
– Excess weight
– Diseases
– Improper lifting
– Psychological conditions
– Smoking
In general, if the pain has any of the following characteristics, it is a good idea to make an appointment with NIOS for an evaluation:
– Back pain that follows an accident, such as a car accident or falling off a ladder
– Ongoing back pain that is getting worse
– Pain that continues for more than four to six weeks
– Pain that is severe and does not improve after a few days of typical remedies, such as rest, ice and common pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or Tylenol)
– Severe pain at night that wakes you up, even from a deep sleep
– Back and abdominal pain
– Numbness or altered feelings in the upper inner thighs, groin area, buttock or genital area
– Back pain that follows an accident, such as a car accident or falling off a ladder
– Ongoing back pain that is getting worse
– Pain that continues for more than four to six weeks
– Pain that is severe and does not improve after a few days of typical remedies, such as rest, ice and common pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or Tylenol)
– Severe pain at night that wakes you up, even from a deep sleep
– Back and abdominal pain
– Numbness or altered feelings in the upper inner thighs, groin area, buttock or genital area