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Understanding the Causes of Back Pain and Warning Signs You Should Know

It’s normal for everyone to experience back pain at some point in their lives. If you observe the people around you, it’s likely you’ve heard someone complain about back pain, especially among the elderly.

Back pain is a common condition in today’s society. It’s not just older adults who experience it; even young people can suffer from it due to their work lifestyle or daily habits, such as sitting in front of a screen for extended periods. Another contributing factor could be wear and tear from years of heavy physical activity.

Did you know? Back pain can be caused by many factors.

When a patient experiences back pain, the doctor will start by taking a thorough medical history to help diagnose the root cause. The causes of back pain can be classified into different groups, as follows:

  • Degenerative (Wear and Tear): This is commonly seen in older adults, due to the degeneration of the spinal discs over time, leading to disc compression, and causing back pain or nerve compression.
  • Overuse: This is frequently observed in individuals suffering from office syndrome, where repetitive movements or poor posture during long hours of sitting lead to muscle strain. It’s also common in those who engage in heavy lifting regularly.
  • Trauma: Back pain can result from traumatic accidents, such as traffic accidents or falls from heights, which may lead to fractures, dislocations, or nerve injuries. However, mild accidents like slips or sports-related injuries may cause localized pain, depending on the severity of the incident.
  • Spinal Tumors: This occurs in cancer patients when tumors metastasize to the spine. Pain is usually experienced as the bone structure weakens from the spread of the disease. This is more common in older adults.
  • Infection: Back pain can also arise from infections in the spine, where patients often experience back pain alongside fever.
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Checking Your Back Pain: What Type of Pain Could Be a Red Flag?

Sometimes, back pain is not just a normal occurrence, and patients should pay attention to additional symptoms, as they could indicate a more serious condition (Red Flag Signs). If you experience the following, it’s important to consult a specialist for a thorough examination:

  • Back pain with fever: This could be linked to an infection.
  • Loss of appetite or rapid weight loss: This could signal cancer.
  • Numbness or weakness: This may be related to nerve compression.
  • Abnormal bowel or bladder movements: Difficulty urinating or incontinence might indicate nerve compression affecting bladder and bowel function.
  • Chronic pain lasting more than 3 months: Prolonged pain should be evaluated by a doctor to determine the cause.
  • Back pain following an accident: This may involve a spinal fracture or collapse.

Treatment Options for Back Pain

After an initial diagnosis through medical history, physical examination, X-rays, or MRI scans, doctors will decide on a treatment plan based on the underlying issue. The treatments can generally be divided into three categories:

  • Medications: Doctors may prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or neurogenic pain medications based on the diagnosis.
  • Non-Medication Treatments:
    • Physical Therapy: This includes treatments like massage, ultrasound, laser therapy, and shockwave therapy to relax muscles and reduce pain. Specific exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles may also be prescribed.
    • Lifestyle Modifications: Doctors will assess the patient’s habits and suggest corrective measures to avoid aggravating the condition.
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Preventing Back Pain: Early Behavioral Changes Matter

  • To avoid back pain, it’s important to start changing habits early on:

    • Proper Use of the Back: Avoid lifting heavy objects unnecessarily. Correct postural habits, such as not sitting for long periods or sitting in positions that harm the spine, can help prevent back pain.
    • Strengthening Back Muscles: Regular physical activity, especially exercises for the abdominal and core muscles, helps strengthen the back muscles, improving flexibility and overall spinal health.
    • Maintain a Healthy Weight: Overweight individuals put extra strain on the spine, making them more prone to back pain. Keeping your weight in a healthy range reduces the burden on your spine.

 

Key Takeaways:
Back pain is most commonly caused by degeneration with age, followed by poor posture and behavior. To avoid experiencing premature back pain, take proactive steps to care for your back starting today, before your spine undergoes irreversible wear and tear.

Q&A

Spinal weight load in different positions:

  • Lying flat: 25%

  • Lying on the side: 75%

  • Standing straight: 100%

  • Bending forward: 150%

  • Bending forward and lifting: 220%

  • Sitting with good posture: 140%

  • Sitting slouched: 185%

  • Sitting slouched and lifting: 275%

As seen in the image, standing straight causes the spine to bear its full 100% weight, but sitting increases this load to 140%.
If sitting for hours without moving is similar to holding a heavy load without setting it down, it can lead to back pain.
This is why office workers often struggle with back issues.

Read more articles: ออฟฟิศซินโดรม หายได้ด้วยศาสตร์ผสมผสานการรักษา

 

This image illustrates the importance of proper neck posture. When our neck is in a normal upright position, it already supports a weight of approximately 5 kilograms. The more we bend our neck forward, the harder the muscles in the back have to work to keep the head from falling forward. If we keep our head down for hours, the muscles are essentially working for hours as well, which is a common cause of neck, shoulder, and upper back pain.

A simple tip for those who want to address unconscious neck bending is to place a large pillow on your lap and rest your hands holding your phone on the pillow.
This helps keep the phone at eye level, eliminating the need to bend your neck. Practice this habit regularly, and your neck pain will surely go away.

Fri, 12 Mar 2021
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ปวดหลัง
back-pain
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