Back pain can be one of the most disabling types of pain there is. It can make it hard to work and significantly reduce your quality of life. However, not all back pain is the same. There’s a big difference between chronic and acute back pain.
With acute back pain, you may be able to resolve it simply by working with your primary care provider and potentially undergoing physical therapy. Chronic back pain, though, often demands the intervention of a back specialist. Understanding the difference between these types of pain can help you see why they require such different care.
Acute back pain is pain that comes from a specific cause. It flares up and is resolved relatively quickly. Most instances of acute back pain last from a few days to a few weeks. Sometimes it can last for several months.
Chronic back pain, on the other hand, is long-lasting. It lasts for at least six months. It may have a specific cause – sometimes, acute pain develops into chronic pain. However, chronic back pain may not have a clear cause. Causes may not be specific, and we may even describe chronic back pain as idiopathic – having no known cause.
Acute back pain is often traceable to a specific event. Some of the most common causes of acute back pain include:
People see their doctor about back pain more often than almost any condition, second only to flus and colds. Most of the time, this is for acute back pain, which may be due to strains, sprains, or muscle spasms. Strains and sprains typically occur because of overworking the back by lifting a very heavy object, often using poor posture and/or poor technique.
Discs are the cartilage “pillows” that cushion your vertebrae (the bones of your spine). Age and overwork can cause these discs to bulge out of one side of the spine. This is called many things, including a herniated disc, ruptured disc, bulging disc, or slipped disc. It can be painful, but it doesn’t generally require the care of a spine specialist. Physical therapy will typically allow these discs to heal, though medication can help treat the pain.
Back trauma can cause serious back pain. This may require the care of a back specialist. However, with proper care and good healing, this pain typically resolves.
Chronic back pain can sometimes develop from acute back pain causes. Injuries, for example, can sometimes develop into chronic pain. In addition, while 90% of people with ruptured discs see them heal, that other 10% can see their pain become a chronic, recurring problem.
Other common causes of chronic back pain include:
People often develop chronic back pain after a lifetime of hard or repetitive work. This type of work causes wear on the vertebrae, ligaments, discs, and other tissues that can develop into chronic pain. Repeated injuries can have a similar effect. Although each injury may effectively heal, the combined result might affect the spine in ways that lead to chronic pain. Other times, you might not have stressed your spine especially, but age can have a similar effect.
Ironically, an inactive lifestyle can lead to chronic back pain that’s as bad as a life of heavy work. When you’re inactive, your muscles may weaken to the point that just holding your back straight for tasks like walking lead to painful strain. Obesity can also put additional strain on your back.
Sometimes chronic back pain can be traced to specific medical causes. Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal – the passage for the nerves to travel through the vertebrae – narrows, impinging on the nerves painfully. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks your joints, including your spine. Scoliosis and other abnormal curving of the spine can be painful as well.
Sometimes, it’s not possible to identify the cause of chronic back pain.
A back specialist will typically oversee the treatment of your chronic back pain. The specific treatments will depend on the nature of your back pain. For treating your back pain, we may recommend a combination of:
If your back pain is due to muscle weakness, simple home exercise might be the most effective way to manage it. Maintaining good strength in your back muscles can help you avoid back pain.
Physical therapy is performed to help improve the strength and flexibility in the back region. Over time, this can help you alleviate your chronic back pain. Your physical therapist may teach you to perform exercises or help you perform them during therapy sessions. They may also massage your muscles and tendons or perform simple manipulations of your arms, legs, or spine.
Medications can help control back pain. Anti-inflammatory medications can reduce swelling that puts pressure on nerves, causing pain. Other times, pain medications are the best option for helping you remain comfortable most of the time. Spinal injections can sometimes help to control pain. Other times, we will perform injections in what are known as “trigger points”: muscles that can cause you to feel pain in other places.
If other treatments don’t yield the results we’re hoping for, we might recommend spine surgery. Spine surgery is typically a treatment of last resort because there are risks, but it can deliver long-term improvements in pain and function, enhancing your quality of life.
You don’t have to keep suffering with back pain. Whether you’re dealing with chronic or acute back pain, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help. At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we offer the quality of care you might think you can only get by traveling to a large city. Instead, you can get a combination of outstanding care and personal attention right here in Meeker. We’re a premier orthopedic practice serving the Western Slope.
Our spine surgeon, Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki, has completed a comprehensive spine Fellowship and possesses the experience necessary to treat a wide range of back conditions. While he’ll always explore conservative treatment options first, his extensive experience performing a wide range of spine surgery procedures ensures you’ll receive the right treatment to help you restore a pain free life.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley and throughout the Western Slope.
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