Dr. Wilkins is a pain and rehab medicine physician with BayCare Clinic. He joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about back pain.
Back pain is a common problem 8 out of 10 people will experience at some point. It rivals cardiac disease as the main reason people seek medical care in the U.S.
There are two main categories of back pain: Pathologic pain and mechanical pain. Pathologic pain is a result of something physically being altered in the body such as a herniated disk, fracture, muscle tear, etc. Mechanical pain happens when there a problem with how the body moves, causing extra strain on muscles, tendons or joints.
Many people are generically told that most back pain will resolve on its own. This isn’t always true. Pain is merely a symptom of an underlying problem. Many times, the symptom of pain will diminish, but the underlying reason for that symptom remains, thus leading to flare ups. If the cause is not addressed, the patient will eventually be forced to deal with it again in the future. It is better to be evaluated by a specialist who is trained specifically in spine conditions to assess the underlying causes, and work on a plan to avoid future issues.
When is back pain ever considered “urgent”?
When back pain lasts longer than three days and is accompanied by:
* Fever
* Unexplained weight loss
* Swelling in the affected area
* Chest pain
* Loss of bladder or bowel control
These problems could be a sign of a serious condition and should be assessed quickly.
Degenerative disk disease, which is the most common reason for low back pain, has a strong genetic component. Genetically, some people are more likely to develop degenerative disk disease, and those with degenerative disk disease are more likely to develop low back or neck pain. This is usually why people with early-age back problems (in their 20s or 30s) are more likely to have some other family member (siblings) affected by the same condition.
There are a number of options available for treating back pain. Treatment should be tailored to the cause of the pain. Treatment should always be considered from the most conservative options first and become more aggressive as required. Most importantly, avoid bed rest as it can in many cases make the underlying situation worse. It’s important to remain active.
* Physical Therapy
* Medication
* Injection
* Surgery
Tips for avoiding back pain:
The majority of low back pain is preventable. Suggestions on how you can prevent back pain include:
* Maintain a healthy diet and weight
* Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities
* Maintain proper posture
* Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine
* Lift with your knees and do not twist when lifting
For more information, visit www.baycare.net or call 920-288-8377.
