Top 3 Reasons Why You Must NOT Ignore Back Pain

Top 3 Reasons Why You Must NOT Ignore Back Pain

Back pain is so common, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. You’d probably tend to ride out the pain and ignore your symptoms – but that’s a bad idea because back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide! Here are the top 3 reasons why you should not ignore your aching back.

Top 3 reasons why you should not ignore your aching back

  1. The cost may be extremely high: Untreated spinal issues may eventually necessitate medical attention. The price of waiting might be in the tens of thousands of dollars, or perhaps as high as $100,000 or more when you factor in surgical costs, imaging costs, prescription costs, and other costs. Costs for lumbar fusions range up to $169,000 in total. It needn’t progress that far.
  2. It could be of a sign disease: Not all back pain is brought on by an injury. Internal organ problems may occasionally be the cause. Among the ailments that can cause back discomfort are kidney stones, blood clots, and infections of the kidneys.
  3. Pain is likely to worsen: Your back ache could get worse if you ignore it. If the pain disappears, it can easily come back. However, even when there is no pain, your body may still be under stress, which impairs its performance without your knowledge. You can become more prone to illness or injury as a result of this.

Common causes of Back Pain

There are many different circumstances that can cause back pain. Here are some of the most common causes:

  1. Injury or strain: Back pain is often caused by an injury or strain to one of the structures in the back. This can happen due to a fall, lifting something heavy, or overstretching.

2. Herniated disc: A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between the bones (vertebrae) that stack to make your spine. This can put pressure on the nerves in the spine and cause pain. Herniated discs can be caused by injury, degeneration from aging, or lifting something too heavy.

3. Degenerative disc disease: This is a condition that occurs when the discs in the spine begin to degrade either due to age or other medical conditions. These can lead to loss of mobility.

4. Spondylolisthesis: This condition occurs when one of the vertebrae in the spine slips out of place. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and cause pain.

5. Arthritis: It is a condition that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. It is a major factor that can also affect the spine, leading to back pain.

6. Osteoporosis: This is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and porous. It can lead to compression fractures in the spine, which can cause back pain.

7. Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve to one side. This can put pressure on the nerves and muscles in the back and cause pain.

8. Spinal stenosis: This is a condition that occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows. This can compress the nerves and cause pain.

9. Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. It can also cause fatigue, sleep problems, and memory problems.

10. Depression: Depression is a condition that can cause physical symptoms, such as back pain. This is because depression can lead to changes in posture and muscle tension.

PREVENTION is better than cure

Back pain is a common problem, but there are things you can do to prevent it. Some simple tips include:

  1. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating food rich in calcium and Vitamin D
  2. Exercising regularly
  3. Wearing comfortable, low-heeled shoes
  4. Using proper posture when sitting or standing
  5. Taking frequent breaks when sitting for long periods of time
  6. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress
  7. Avoiding smoking
  8. When lifting, use leg and stomach muscles, not the back muscles

Conclusion

Back pain is frustrating and can interrupt your daily life. It is a common problem that can be caused by many different things. Age, obesity, lifestyle, smoking, poor posture, previous injuries, and stress are some of the things that can make you more likely to experience back pain. Back pain can also be caused by bodily injury or strain, a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, arthritis, osteoporosis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, or depression.

It is important to consult a doctor so that you can get the correct diagnosis and treatment. Treatment may include rest, ice, heat exercises, stretches, massage, and medication. But, in rare cases, surgery may be necessary. If you have back pain, talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.

Resources

1. “Back pain – Symptoms and Causes” Mayo Clinic 2022
 Back pain – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

2. “7 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery” John Hopkins Medicine 2022
7 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery | Johns Hopkins Medicine

3. “A fitness expert shares a game plan for living without back pain” CNN 2022
How to live without chronic back pain: A prevention plan | CNN

4. “Back Pain” National Center for Biotechnology Information 2022
Back Pain – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

5. “Back Pain – Overview, Symptoms and Causes” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 2022
Common Causes of Back Pain – Types & Treatment | NIAMS

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