Back Pain

Question: I am a 45 year old female. I think my ageing is having an effect on my lower back. I am constantly having back pain problems which result in me not sleeping at night. I would like to know what causes this and how do I treatment these pains.

Answer: Firstly back pain is one the most common medical problems affecting many 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives. However, with that being said, it does not mean that you should just ignore it until it goes away. From what you are saying, these back pains are constantly giving you problems. The best thing to do in this situation is to consult your medical practitioner.

Back pain is very hard to treat if one does not understand and know what the actual cause was, so understanding the cause is the key to proper and effective treatment. Back pain can be cause by a combination of factors.  Since you are concerned that the cause of your back pain might be due to the fact that you are ageing, an associated cause of back pain could be Spinal stenosis. As we grow older, the spine becomes constricted and the spinal canal becomes too tight, this results to back pain.

Other causes of back pain may include back muscle strain. This is the most common cause of low back pain. A ruptured intervertabral disc, the damage of your intervertabral disc, arthritis, spondylolisthesis and Osteoporosis are also common causes of back pain. Now that you know the cause of your back pain, it is crucial to find the proper treatment and as mentioned above, to see your medical practitioner.

Treatment for back pain can become frustrating when a direct medicine is not able to immediately do the trick. Over-the-counter pain medications such as paracentamol as well as anti-inflammatories like i-brufen may help control the pain. Try applying ice on compresses several times a day, up to 20 minutes each time. Then after the pain has stopped apply heat to loosen the tight muscles.

A limited use of belts, corsets and back braces may assist in supporting the back temporarily. Laying down in a comfortable position may also help, however bed rest for longer than a few days is not recommended. If the pains are severe, you might need professional treatment like prescribed medication by your doctor. You may also need to see a physiotherapist who will massage you and assist you in doing the necessary exercises to improve your condition. Surgery may also be a form of treatment however most of the time this is not necessary. If you suspect that your pains are getting worse, contact as medical doctor as soon as possible.

Fact: About 9 out of 10 adults experience back pain as some point in their life, and 5 out 10 working adults have back pain every year.