How long will I have back pain?
by Admin
Posted on 05-03-2024 04:06 PM
Trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections , nerve blocks , nerve ablations and other types of injection-based procedures are available for chronic back pain. These procedures are considered when the source of the pain is known, and they can sometimes help rule out certain causes if the treatment does not work.
Injections may stop or lessen pain for a while, but they are not intended as long-term solutions and shouldn’t be used in isolation. The goal of injection-based treatments is to improve pain control and maximize your participation in regular gentle activity such as physical therapy and home exercises.
Back pain can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). It can feel like a sudden, sharp pain or a dull, constant ache. Acute back pain lasts from a few days to a few weeks. It’s often caused by an accident, fall, or lifting something that’s too heavy. Acute back pain usually gets better on its own, without any treatment. But there may be times when you need to get medical care. Find out when to call a doctor or nurse about back pain. Chronic back pain lasts for more than 3 months. It’s much less common than acute back pain.
How is back pain treated?
Occasionally, our spine team finds that a patient’s back pain is caused by an underlying condition that is not spine related.
Kidney and digestive issues, including pancreatitis and gallstones, can cause low-back discomfort that patients might assume is spine pain. In women, uterine fibroids and endometriosis are notorious for causing core pain that can radiate into the back. Rarely, we discover that a patient with sudden, severe back pain has experienced a ruptured aneurysm , which is a weakening and tearing of part of a blood vessel. This is a medical emergency because it causes internal bleeding that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
By clicking submit, i agree to the medicinenet's terms & conditions & privacy policy and understand that i may opt out of medicinenet's subscriptions at any time. Bone and joint conditions: bone and joint conditions that lead to low back pain include those existing from birth (congenital), those that result from wear and tear (degenerative) or injury, and those that are due to inflammation of the joints (arthritis). Congenital bone conditions: congenital causes (existing from birth) of low back pain include scoliosis and spina bifida. Scoliosis is a sideways (lateral) curvature of the spine that can be caused when one lower extremity is shorter than the other (functional scoliosis) or because of an abnormal architecture of the spine ( structural scoliosis ).
What can I do to help relieve the symptoms of back pain?
Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency that can lead to serious complications if a person does not receive prompt treatment, so a person should call 911 immediately if they experience any symptoms. Doctors will generally recommend surgery to relieve pressure on the nerves. This reduces a person’s risk of developing permanent paralysis and incontinence. Lower back pain is very common, and there is not always an obvious cause. However, it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as an injury, an infection, or spinal problems. A person can often treat lower back pain at home by resting, taking otc pain relievers, and stretching gently.
The symptoms of lower back pain can vary from person to person. It may come on suddenly, perhaps after you’ve lifted something heavy or moved in a way that’s hurt your back. Or it may come on gradually over time or for no clear reason. Some people get a dull pain in their back, while others describe it as more of a tearing or burning pain. You may find certain things make the pain worse, and other things help to relieve it. The pain can range from mild to severe. If you have sciatica, pain can spread from your back or buttock down your leg, sometimes as far as your foot or toes.
Most back pain will ease in a few days to a few weeks. If the pain lasts longer than 3 months, it's considered chronic you should talk with your healthcare provider. Recovery from low back pain can take time. To prevent back pain from coming back, it's important to follow good health practices, such as: maintaining a healthy weight maintaining good posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping not smoking.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep issues. People with fibromyalgia may experience lower back pain and stiffness. Fibromyalgia can also cause tingling in the hands and feet, memory issues, and headaches. Researchers don't know what causes fibromyalgia, but people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are more likely to develop the condition.