5 Possible Causes For Your Back Pain

More than 80% of the population will experience some sort of back pain throughout their life. From San Diego to Fort Wayne, back pain can be chronic or come and go. In some cases, there may be ways to prevent the pain. In other cases, you just need to know the right way to treat it. Here are 5 causes and what you can do about them:

Lumbar Strain

A lumbar strain is caused by microscopic tears that lead to stretch injuries. This typically occurs in people in their 40s, but any age could be affected. Lumbar strains happen when a muscle or ligament has been overused, improperly used, or experienced trauma. When you have a lumbar strain, you can treat it with rest, medications, heat applications, a massage, or rehabilitative exercises.

Nerve Irritation

Pressure on the nerves in your spine can cause more than just irritation. In more serious cases, it can be caused by lumbar disc disease, a bony encroachment, or a viral infection. More often than not, it's caused by a "pinched nerve" from repetitive motion activities. You may have a lumbar disc herniation or a herniated disc protruding. You may feel numbness or tingling in your back. You may be able to get by with resting and performing strengthening exercises. It would be wise to meet with a doctor to determine if you should undergo surgery, physical therapy, injections, or spinal decompression.

Bone and Joint Conditions

There are lots of different reasons for bone and joint problems. For one thing, you may have been born with a congenital condition, such as scoliosis or spina bifida, that can create a lot of pain in your back for you. On the other hand, anyone could experience pain in this region due to wear and tear, injuries, or arthritis. For congenital conditions, you should talk to your doctor about your surgical options and other things, such as physical therapy or back braces. Other conditions can be treated with rest, heat, rehabilitative exercises, and medications.

Tumors

There are 2 types of tumors: benign or malignant. A malignant tumor could be tied to cancer or other virulent diseases. Either way, the tumor could be resting in the bone of your spine or pelvis, causing you to experience a lot of pain. You may also experience some loss of nerve or muscle function. When this happens, your doctor will perform testing to determine whether or not the problem is caused by a tumor and the location of the tumor. You can use x-rays, bone scanners, CAT scans, or MRI scanning to locate the problem and determine the best course of action to remove it.

Infection

An infection causing the problem is unlikely. Cases of infection causing pain in your back is rare. When it happens, it's typically from strains of Staphylococcus aureus or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If your doctor determines that this is the case, you're going to have to undergo an aggressive plan to get rid of the infection using antibiotics.

For some people, bending over inappropriately to pick up something as light as a piece of paper can be just the thing to cause severe pain. When this happens, you may be able to treat the problem at home with rest and heat application. On the other hand, it would be wise to see a Fort Wayne back pain specialist to examine your back and determine if there are any other things that you can do to relieve the pain and get you back to your normal routine as quickly as possible. It's important to find someone who specializes in treating similar problems, so they can help you find the right treatment right away.