Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, ranging from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp discomfort. While often caused by muscle strain or poor posture, it can sometimes indicate underlying conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
🚨 Seek Emergency Care Immediately
If you have back pain with:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (cauda equina syndrome).
- Numbness in the groin or saddle area.
- Sudden weakness or inability to move legs.
- Follows a traumatic injury (fall, accident).
- Accompanied by fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss.
- Severe, unrelenting pain, especially at night or when lying down.
📅 Schedule a Doctor’s Visit
If your back pain:
- Persists for more than 2-4 weeks (chronic).
- Radiates down one or both legs (sciatica).
- Causes tingling, numbness, or weakness in legs/feet.
- Interferes with sleep, work, or daily activities.
- Follows repetitive lifting or prolonged sitting.
- Is accompanied by stiffness in the morning.
Common Symptoms & Possible Causes
| How the pain feels & location | Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| Dull ache in lower back, stiffness, worse with activity | Muscle Strain or Ligament Sprain |
| Sharp, shooting pain down one leg (sciatica) | Herniated Disc or Disc Bulge |
| Pain with numbness/tingling in legs | Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal) |
| Chronic, achy pain in joints, worse in morning | Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Disc Disease |
| Sharp pain with twisting or lifting | Acute Disc Injury or Facet Joint Syndrome |
| Pain with fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss | Spinal Infection or Tumor (rare but serious) |
Causes by Category
>Muscle Strain: Overstretching or tearing of back muscles.
>Ligament Sprain: Injury to spinal ligaments from twisting or heavy lifting.
Poor Posture: Prolonged sitting, slouching, or improper ergonomics.
Spondylolisthesis: Vertebra slips forward over the one below.
Herniated Dis: Disc material presses on spinal nerves.
Degenerative Disc Disease: Age-related wear and tear on discs.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of spinal canal causing nerve compression.
Osteoarthritis: Cartilage breakdown in facet joints.
Osteoporosis: Weakened vertebrae prone to compression fractures.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: Inflammatory arthritis of spine.
Kidney Stones: Referred pain to lower back/flank area.
Spinal Infection/Tumor: Rare but serious causes requiring immediate attention.
Diagnostic Procedures
Prevention & Self-Care
Treatment Options
Physical Therapy
Strengthening, stretching, and posture correction.
Medications
NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or prescription pain relievers.
Chiropractic Care
Spinal manipulation for certain types of back pain.
Injections
Epidural steroids or nerve blocks for severe pain.
Surgery
For severe cases like herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
