Understanding Your Back Pain

Back pain is the most common pain and is experienced by people of almost all ages. Back pain is a common complaint, and it can be consistent or come and go. It can present with different types of pain, ranging from sharp shooting pain in a specific area of the back to mild pain in a general area.

Types of back pain

• Acute back pain occurs suddenly and can last from a few days to a few weeks

• Subacute back pain may come suddenly or over time and last from 4 to 12 weeks

• Chronic back pain can come on quickly or slowly and last longer than 12 weeks

Causes of back pain

1. The most common cause of your back pain is your lifestyle

   1. Prolonged sitting at work for 8-10 hours at stretch

   2. Bad sleeping posture or sleeping on a hard mattress

   3. Excessive sports or lifting

   4. Smoking

   5. Poor nutrition

   6. Wearing an ill-fitting backpack

2. Obesity puts additional stress and pressure on your body's joints

3. Infection affects the bones of the spine or the disks between those bones

4. Injury to the ligaments that support the spine, often from improper twisting or lifting

5. Aging causes the discs between the vertebrae of the spine to break down

6. Fractured vertebrae

7. Injury to a muscle or tendon

8. Chemical Imbalance in your back

When to see your doctor vs physio

Even though the back is very common in people, most cases of back pain clear up without needing to see a doctor.

You should see your doctor if - Your pain is severe and has been consistent for more than a week.

You should see the Physiotherapist if :

• The pain is life-threatening and you cannot do any movement because of the pain

• The pain is getting worse and worse with each passing day

• It is interfering with your daily activities

• Numbness in your back or genitals

• Severe weakness in your legs, making it very hard for you to stand

• Difficulty controlling urine or passing urine

Home Remedies for Back Pain

Following are some steps you can take to help relieve or prevent your back pain

1. There are many creams and ointments that can relieve your pain by blocking the sensation and giving you instant relief

2. Proper sleep at night for 7-8 hours

3. Placing an ice pack wrapped in a towel directly on your back pain will reduce inflammation, numb the pain and provide you relief

4. Start daily stretching exercises - Do the stretches slowly at the beginning and only continue when you feel comfortable without pain

5. Vitamin D has been shown to keep your bones strong and healthy. You may consider taking it with your doctor's permission

6. Always sit in the correct body posture - keep your back straight, shoulders back, head-centered, and buttocks touching the back of your chair.

At Physica, we are creating easy and safe programs designed by physiotherapists to help you with back pain issues such as low back pain, mechanical back pain, sciatica and many more back related conditions so that you can live pain free. You can also book your online video consultation on the app, to discuss any issues you might be facing and begin your journey towards recovery!