Back pain is among the leading medical issues that make people visit medical facilities or miss work. Your back comprises muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and bones that support your body and enable you to move around. Any defect in these structures can lead to back pain. Injuries, poor posture, and some medical conditions are the leading causes of Jersey City back pain. Back pain can occur at any age, but you are more likely to experience back pain as you age due to the wear and tear of your discs. Back pain can be mild, moderate, or severe, preventing you from doing your daily duties, walking, or sleeping.
Symptoms of Back Pain
Pain: Back pain may appear sharp or dull and radiate to the bottom of the back of your legs. Straining your back during duties may lead to a pop in your back. Pain mainly worsens when you bend over and gets better when you rest.
Stiffness: When you have back stiffness, moving or straightening your back becomes challenging. After sitting for a prolonged period, you may struggle to get up and feel like you need to stretch to loosen up. Decreased range of motion may happen in severe cases.
Posture issues: Back pain makes it difficult to stand up straight. Your lower back tends to appear flat rather than curved.
Muscle spasms: After a strain, the muscles in your lower back may contract uncontrollably. Muscle spasms may lead to severe pain and difficulty standing, walking, or moving.
Treatment for Back Pain
Pain relievers: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen relieve pain and inflammation. Analgesics such as acetaminophen help to ease the pain, but they do not have anti-inflammatory characteristics.
Topical rubs and ointments: Topical products are made in different forms, including gel, lotion, cream, patches, or spray. They contain components like ibuprofen and lidocaine effective for easing back pain.
Muscle relaxants: Your doctor can recommend these medications if you have muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants work on your central nervous system to relieve pain.
Steroid injections: You are most likely to get cortisone steroid injections if your back pain results from nerve problems.
Opioids: Vicodin and oxycodone are the commonly used opioids. They are potent drugs that help relieve severe pain. Opioids act on your brain cells and body to minimize discomfort. Ensure your specialist monitors your opioid prescription as overuse can lead to addiction.
Exercises: Certain exercises help to relieve back pain. They improve your posture, strengthen your muscles and enhance flexibility. Your physician will guide you on the best activities based on the cause of your back pain.
Therapies: Specific therapies like acupuncture, massage, chiropractic adjustments, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques can help reduce back pain.
Surgery: Your doctor can recommend surgery if you experience structural disorders that are not responding to non-surgical treatments. Surgery can be suitable if your back pain is severe and there are persistent detectable structural abnormalities. Spinal cord compression that alters your normal functioning and nerve compression that weaken your muscles can also require surgery.
Back pain can lead to severe complications like disability if left untreated. Schedule an appointment at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics for back pain treatment to restore your flexibility.
