Relief from Back Pain

Acute Back Pain: Overview

Acute back pain is a significant problem for approximately 90% of American adults at some point during their lifetime. It is estimated that it is the fifth most common reason for consulting a doctor, usually a primary care physician.

It is frequently difficult for the primary care physician to definitively diagnosis the cause of acute back pain. Doctors are more often able to diagnosis patients whose back pain is related to some other serious medical condition, such as a neurological or rheumatological disease, infection, or malignancy.

It is estimated that fewer than 2% acute back pain patients have any herniation of the discs. Most people who experience acute low back pain do not require diagnostic studies, and most improve with conservative treatment.

Signs & Symptoms

Acute back pain can last from a few days to a few weeks. Such back problems are often the result of some mechanical cause, such as trauma or an injury sustained playing sports or doing simple tasks around the house. Arthritis can also cause acute back pain.

You may experience a range of sensations that can feel like aching muscles or sharp, shooting pain. Your flexibility and range of motion may be restricted. You may have difficulty standing up straight.

It is important to consult a physician for acute back pain. Even though most cases do not require extensive treatment, acute back pain can be severe and debilitating.

If the pain exists longer than three months, the condition is generally considered to be chronic back pain, which requires additional diagnostic studies and treatment.

Treatment Options

Conservative methods are usually the first treatment for acute back pain. When acute back pain initially strikes, it is often recommended that you lie down to take the gravitational pressure off your spine. This is especially helpful if a disc is being affected. When you remove the downward pressure from your spine, the muscles are able to relax more freely. You can change positions, but do not to make sudden movements.

Acute back pain may initially require the use of muscle relaxant medications.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or Tylenol can help to reduce pain, muscle stiffness, and swelling. Hot and cold compresses help, too. Use ice at the onset of the back pain and apply heat once there is some easing of muscle spasms and decreased pain.

If you use a back support or brace, do so for short periods only. Prolonged use may weaken your back muscles, making them vulnerable to re-injury.

Conservative Treatments for Acute Back Pain

If your back pain does not show a noticeable improvement after 72 hours, contact your physician.

Call immediately if you:

* Experience difficulty moving or numbness in extremities
* Develop a severe headache or fever
* Experience any loss of bladder control
* Are pregnant
* Experience pain in your chest and/or left arm

Such symptoms require diagnostic studies and more extensive treatment.

No single treatment approach is guaranteed to cure back pain. Most often, time allows the back to heal from trauma or strain.

Chiropractic Treatment

A chiropractor may help you recover using rehabilitation techniques. The goal of chiropractic care is to help restore spinal movement through manipulation, which helps to reduce back pain and improve a patient's ability to function.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy has been shown to be beneficial for people with acute back pain. The McKenzie method, in particular, seems to provide short-term pain relief. Physical therapy may also include a combination of manual therapy, exercise, and massage. Additionally, a TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) can stimulate the muscles, help to alleviate acute back pain, and promote healing.

Acupuncture

Although there is no conclusive evidence that acupuncture is beneficial in the treatment of acute back pain, some research indicates people do experience some pain relief when treated with acupuncture. As long as you see a professional practitioner, there is no harm in trying acupuncture.

Operative Treatments for Acute Back Pain

In some cases, acute back pain may indicate a serious problem. Disc herniation can cause nerve damage if the nerves are being compressed by the affected discs. Numbness and loss of bladder control can also be the result of a more severe back injury or disease. You may need to consult an orthopedic surgeon if your condition proves to be serious.

If acute back pain is ruled out as an indication of a more serious medical problem, you will generally follow conservative treatment measures that can be provided by the primary care physician.

You may want to ask your doctor questions such as:

1. Will I be vulnerable to future back problems such as sciatica or herniated discs?
2. Should I have any diagnostic studies or imaging done?
3. Are there things I can do to prevent back injury or strain?
4. Do I need to limit my daily activities in any way?
5. Am I more likely to develop arthritis since I have had acute back pain?

Resources for Acute Back Pain

Supportive Products

Sometimes using a diamond back brace or supportive corset is beneficial while the back is healing. You can also try a back support , such as a lumbar roll , to allow you to sit in a chair more comfortably. You may find it helpful to sleep with a pillow or other support under your knees to reduce strain on your back muscles.

Ice and Heat

With the onset of acute back pain, use an ice pack on the affected area several times each day, but not for more than 20 minutes at a time. Cold will ease swelling and inflammation. Because the ice will numb the tissue around the area, it also helps to slow the impulses to the nerves in the back. After 48 hours from the onset of the pain, apply heat instead. You can use a heating pad, a heat pack, or a warm bath to loosen muscle tightness and stiffness.

Medications and Supplements

Most people with acute back pain can use over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or Tylenol. You can also take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. If the severity of the pain and muscle spasms warrants it, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant.

Lotions and Creams

You may choose to apply a topical analgesic cream (such as WP Cold Therapy) to the site of your back pain and the muscles around the area. Physical therapists and chiropractors frequently use such topical analgesics because of their ability to penetrate more deeply into the painful areas of the back and provide longer periods of pain relief.

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