Dealing with Back Pain: Causes and Treatment Options

Since the advent of 9-5 jobs, blue-collar jobs are becoming more and more abundant. The work culture has shifted rapidly from hard work in the fields to long hours sitting in chairs and coffee. However, this has caused certain unwanted burdens, and recent studies reveal 87.5 million cases of back pain in India. But why?

The most common causes of back pain are extended periods of inactivity or extended hours during the day spent at desks, which require little to no back flexion. The back comprises complex muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones that synchronize. The Major causes of back pain are:

1. Muscular strain – Muscular strain and spasms are caused by lifting excessively heavy items, abrupt and awkward body movements, and even minuscule physical activities.

2. Structural problems – Several structural issues can lead to prolonged back pain, such as ruptured discs, bulging discs, sciatica (occurs when a herniated disc presses on a nerve , arthritis, which is known to cause body pain in hips, lower back and spinal cord.  

3. Poor posture and movement – prolonged computer usage can lead to back pain through excessive twisting, overstretching, straining of neck muscles, etc. Certain times these miniscule habits can require deep rehabilitation treatment.  

     4. Sleep disorder – Several people have disrupted sleep schedules for many reasons:

1. Excessive blue light consumption
2. Irregular sleeping pattern
3. Excessive caffeine intake

      5. Spinal infection – Spinal infections are a rare occurrence but are a possibility in today's environment.

Each of the mentioned reasons increases the risk of back pain.

SYMPTOMS

To solve a problem, we must know if there is one. There are several symptoms that, if contracted, indicate that the person should visit a doctor for back pain treatment. These symptoms are:

1. Unexplained weight loss
2. Fever
3. Pain in Back > 6 Weeks
4. Recent injury to the back
5. Pain down the legs
6. Difficulty urinating
7. Urinary incontinence

The symptoms, although identifiable, cannot always be associated with back pain. Henceforth, Patients must know when to consult a doctor for back pain treatment. Patients are usually consulted to visit a doctor for back pain if the pain or numbness does not improve with rest and medication. 

TREATMENT OPTIONS

1. Medication- If the condition is severe or the back pain persists, the doctor can recommend muscle relaxants. These are prescribed for shorter periods. These medications require constant monitoring by the doctor.

2. Physical Therapy – Simple and sophisticated method for relaxing extensive body pain. Physical therapy treats back pain through heat, ice, ultrasound, and electric stimulation to the soft tissues to dissolve pain. The physical therapy program also adds stability and flexibility exercises for the abdominal muscles.

3. Traction- This therapy technique requires pulleys and weights to stretch the back and herniated disk back into its original position. Performed only in specific cases, this helps reduce pain.

     4. Surgery – While surgeries are limited scenarios, they can happen. Surgeries are usually performed on individuals with a herniated disk. Surgeries are performed to relieve long-term pain and nerve compression. Some of the most common surgeries include:

   i.            Fusion

   ii.            Artificial Disc

   iii.            Discectomy

   iv.            Partially removing a Vertebra    

Established in 1982, Park Group of Hospitals bolsters one of the country's best back treatment programs. Park Hospitals focuses aggressively on slipped discs and backaches to reduce the problems caused by long working hours in the corporate sectors, insufficient rest periods, and busy blue-collar jobs. The hospital's vision to provide every patient with efficient medical services, commitment, facilities, and compassion has resulted in the formulation of one of India's best Back pain treatment programs.