Additional Info

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 6300 North River Road Rosemont, IL 60018-4262 Phone: 847-823-7186 Toll-Free: 1-800-346-2267 Fax: 847-823-8125 http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/

American College of Rheumatology 1800 Century Place Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30345-4300 Phone: 404-633-3777 Fax: 404-633-1870 http://www.rheumatology.org/

Arthritis Foundation P.O. Box 7669 Atlanta, GA 30357-0669 Phone: 404-872-7100 Toll-Free: 1-800-283-7800 http://www.arthritis.org/

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse National Insitutes of Health 1 AMS Circle Bethesda, MD 20892-3675 Phone: 301-495-4484 Toll-Free: 1-877-226-4267 Fax: 301-718-6366 TTY: 301-565-2966 Email: niamsinfo@mail.nih.govhttp://www.niams.nih.gov/

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Prognosis

More than 90% of people with back pain get better after conservative treatment. Only 5% of people with back pain will have symptoms for more than 12 weeks and for most of these people, the cause is not serious.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

When To Call A Professional

Contact your doctor if:

• Severe back pain makes it impossible for you to do your normal daily activities.

• Your back pain follows significant trauma.

• Mild back pain gets worse after a few days or persists more than a week or two.

• Back pain is accompanied by weight loss, fever, chills or urinary symptoms.

• You develop sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in a leg.

• You develop numbness in the groin or rectum or difficulty controlling bladder or bowel function.

• You have had cancer previously and you develop persistent back pain.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Treatment

Most episodes of back pain are not serious and are treated with:

• Limited bed rest (no more than two days)

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) for pain or oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), for pain and inflammation

• Muscle relaxants or prescription pain relievers, if necessary, for a short period

• Hot or cold compresses

People with back pain are encouraged to return to their normal activities gradually, and to temporarily avoid heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, or sudden bending or twisting.

If you are recovering from back pain, your doctor may ask you to call or return to his or her office for a follow-up visit in about two weeks to confirm that your symptoms are gone and that you can safely resume all of your normal activities.

If your back pain is related to more serious disorders of the vertebrae or spinal nerves or if it hasn't improved over a few weeks, you may be referred to a specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the bones), a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the nerves and brain) or a rheumatologist (an arthritis specialist).

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Prevention

You can help prevent some forms of back pain by strengthening your back with exercises and by avoiding activities that lead to back injury. This means:

• Practice good posture.

• Sleep on your side or on your back with a pillow under your knees if you can.

• Exercise regularly, but stretch before and after.

• Practice abdominal crunches to strengthen abdominal muscles, which support your lower back. Also, walk or swim regularly to strengthen your lower back.

• Always lift objects from a squatting position, using your hips and your legs to do the heavy work. Avoid lifting, twisting and bending at the same time.

• Avoid sitting or standing for extended periods of time.

• Wear soft soled shoes with heels that are less than 1 and one-half inches high.

To help prevent osteoporosis, make sure you get enough calcium daily to meet the dietary requirements for your age group. Follow a routine program of weight-bearing exercise. Avoid smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink. If you are a woman who has entered menopause, speak with your doctor about testing for osteoporosis and medications that can help to prevent it.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Expected Duration

How long back pain lasts depends on its cause. For example, if your pain is caused by strain from overexertion, you may be able to return to your normal activities gradually over a period of several days or weeks. However, you should avoid heavy lifting, prolonged sitting or sudden bending or twisting until your back gets better.

Women who have back pain caused by the added weight of pregnancy almost always will get better after delivery. People who are obese may need to lose weight before back pain eases.

People with back pain caused by pyelonephritis often begin to feel better within days after they start taking antibiotics, although they usually need to continue taking antibiotics for up to two weeks. People with more serious forms of back pain caused by problems with the vertebrae or spinal nerves usually have back pain that lasts at least 12 weeks and may last for years, depending on the specific cause and the treatment.

Source: EverydayHealth.com

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and your medical history. He or she will examine your back muscles and spine and will move you certain ways to check for pain, muscle tenderness or weakness, stiffness, numbness or abnormal reflexes. For example, if you have a disk problem, you may have pain in your lower back when the doctor raises your straightened leg.

Your symptoms and the physical examination may give your doctor enough information to diagnose the problem. However, with back pain, your doctor may only be able to tell you that the problem is not serious. If your doctor determines that your back pain is caused by muscle strain, obesity, pregnancy or another cause that is not urgent, you may not need any additional tests. However, if he or she suspects a more serious problem involving your vertebrae or spinal nerves, especially if your back pain has lasted longer than 12 weeks, you may need one or more of the following tests:

• X-rays of your back

• Blood test

• Urine tests

• Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

• Computed tomography (CT) scan

• Nerve conduction studies and electromyography to determine whether nerves, muscles or both may be injured

• Bone scan, especially if you have a previous history of cancer

Source: EverydayHealth.com