Understanding Back Pain: It’s Symptoms and Treatment

We have been discussing neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at length over the past year or so. It is time to define what back pain is, at least in the broadest sense.

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica are often lumped into one category and very often defined, as noted above, in the broadest sense, meaning all spine-related pain is often referred to as back pain.

In fact, back pain can range from a slight twinge to a dull ache, a deep throbbing sensation to chronic and acute levels of sharp and often debilitating pain in which activity is all but impossible, tingling to numbness, and everything in between.

Back pain may originate as a consequence of a single act, like picking up a heavy stone the wrong way or bending over the pick up a child, or it may emerge gradually and, while imperceptible at first, may build in intensity, growing steadily worse over time until it is life altering and profound.

Unfortunately, it is usually the case that an individual will not seek the assistance of a medical pracitioner until their back pain, in any of its manifestations, is debilitating and even totally disabling.

Back Pain may be caused by any number of events or conditions and it may affect almost anyone regardless of age, race, sex or national origin. In other words, back
pain affects millions of boys and girls, men and women all over the world every year.

Back pain generally emerges in one of three categories or classifications:

1) Conditional. This refers to a specific condition an individual is suffering with and/or through, not a disease process but more a consequence of behavior combined with structural breakdowns due to weakness, abnormality, and/or an event leading to or revealing a structural failure.

2) Situational. This type of back pain is generally traced back to, and resulting from, a single, isolated event. The situational category of neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain (a.k.a., sciatica or leg pain) is like those described above, picking up a heavy object or a child, some one-time accidental occurrence, and the next thing you know, you can’t move!

3) Systemic. Back pain of this type refers to neck, back, and sciatic nerve pain emerging as a consequence of disease.

Interestingly, back pain is often classified in terms of intensity, usually either acute or chronic pain events, instead of etiology (cause).

It seems apparent we are more interested in the presentation of pain, how it affects us and the effect it has upon us, than on its location or cause.

Interestingly, it is the etiology that will lead us to a resolution of the pain, otherwise we are simply chasing symptoms. Ultimately, back pain, and I am referring to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, is a symptom of an underlying condition and it is the condition we must understand if we are to deal with it effectively.

In the next article we will get into the various aspects of spine-related pain and how to deal with it.

The first step in neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain relief is understanding.

For more information on neck pain, back pain, and sciatica, go to my Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies Blog!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
216-539-7412
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, To begin a neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief program today and have relief in days, often hours, just click this link!

Understanding neck pain, back pain, and sciatica is a crucial as our treatment is often dependent on the ability to describe both the location of the pain and what kind of pain…and its intensity. In order to fully comprehend, treat, and recover from neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, we need to seek medical treatment early enough after the first expression of neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica and we need to take an active and involved role in the treatment strategy before, during, and after formal medical intervention and treatment.

The Types of Spine Pain (also referred to the general types of back pain)

Back pain is known by a variety of technical terms depending on the location and severity. Neck pain is also known in medical terms as cervicalgia. Neck pain or cervicalgia may vary from dull and aching to chronic and acute and is often associated with pain in the shoulder and tingling and numbness in the arms and hands. Upper back pain, also known as thoracic pain, is also referred to as middle back pain depending on the location. Thoracic pain, like to neck pain, may range from dull to acute and chronic. Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, affects the lower back, as the name indicates, and ranges from dull, localized pain to acute, chronic, and widespread. Lower back pain or lumbago may also be associated with the final classification of back pain, known as sciatic nerve pain or simply sciatica. Sciatica, also known as sciatic neuritis, is often classified as a lumbar radiculopathy (the distinction is beyond the scope of this article). Sciatica, as with the other expressions of spine pain mentioned above, may range from a dull and aching pain, to acute and chronic, many times associated with pain across the buttocks and into the legs. Sciatica may also present with weakness, tingling, and numbness in the legs, feet, and toes.

Describing and Quantifying Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

One of the most difficult tasks when it comes to back pain, in any of its expressions, is to describe the type and intensity of the pain. Because neck pain, back pain, and sciatica vary from patient to patient and incident to incident, and because pain is an abstract concept, not easily identifiable or quantifiable, ranking neck pain, back pain, and sciatica on any sort of a scale is at most minimally helpful and, in many instances, totally ineffective in treating the condition. Because pain is the ultimate symptom of an underlying condition, it is crucial that a medical practitioner be consulted as soon as possible after pain presents itself.

The Etiology and Treatment of Spine Pain

The etiology (cause) of spine pain may be difficult or even impossible to properly identify, particularly if medical treatment isn’t sought immediately. Several studies indicate that the sooner an individual seeks medical attention for their neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica, the better the prognosis. Significantly, one of the biggest challenges facing the medical community, particularly when it comes to spine pain complaints, and I am referring to neck pain, back pain, and sciatica when I refer to an overall category like spine-related pain, is that patients do not seek medical attention early enough, leading to an exacerbation of the underlying condition.

Treatment and Relief of Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica

There is encouraging data from several studies that would seem to indicate that approximately 3.5 to 4 in 10 chronic back pain patients, that’s pain lasting more than 90 days, recovered within a year. However, that still leaves a sizable number affected by chronic pain long term. The numbers seem to improve with exercise and there are many studies that seem to indicate that low-impact, supervised exercise is the best overall strategy for chronic neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief. Treatment for acute spine-related pain, meaning pain lasting more than 24 hours but less and 2 weeks, generally requires a different but linked strategy. Overall, early treatment focusing on proper diagnoses and neck pain, back pain, and sciatica relief includes ice, use of anti-inflammatories (sparingly), and physical therapy. Bed rest is almost always counter-indicated and may exacerbate the problem.

Pain is Difficult If Not Impossible to Describe and Quantify!

Acute and/or chronic neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica are even more difficult to describe and diagnose because the spine is such a complex system. Only through immediate consultation with a medical practitioner, combined with a comprehensive and individualized neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief strategy can one hope to achieve a pain free life once again.

The answer?

1) Get a proper medical diagnoses.
2) Get active as quickly as possible.
3) Follow up with your medical practitioner at regular intervals until pain free.
4) And, most important of all, get involved in a comprehensive neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica relief program.

How to Overcome Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica: Finding Lasting Relief

Ultimately, make sure any neck pain, back pain, and/or sciatica treatment and relief program includes stretching, walking, and low-impact exercise (particularly at first) to strengthen the musculoskeletal system as a whole, and the spine in particular. Focus on the 5 factors and you will be on your way to a pain free life: lose weight; strengthen your core muscles, specifically, and your musculoskeletal system, generally; work on any muscle imbalances you may have; get adequate nutrition, through proper diet, to ensure your body has the nutrients to rebuild; and finally, take in plenty of fluid to ensure intervertebral disc health (IVDs are 85% water).

If you follow the above mentioned pain treatment and relief strategies you will be on your way to neck pain, back pain, and sciatic nerve pain (sciatica) relief in no time!

If you ever have any questions, I would be happy to discuss them with you!

John

Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr., The Bad Back Guy
216-712-6526
866-835-2913 (toll free)
Skype: johnzajaros1
johnz@ultimatebadbackstrategies.com

PS, There is another, more in depth article on the subject of the types of spine pain…to include neck pain, back pain, and sciatica at Ultimate Neck Pain, Back Pain, and Sciatica Relief Strategies! Just click here!

PPS, For a comprehensive program tailored for neck pain, back pain, and sciatic relief, begin your new life here!