Acute Back Pain, More Common Than You Think
By Debra Rodzinak
If your back pain has been hanging around for up to six weeks, you may be suffering from acute lower back pain. Symptoms can include a dull, aching pain up to a sharp, stabbing pain. The level of pain felt can be from mild to severe and fluctuate at times in between the two. Pain may present in one or both sides. It is easy to see why, without a clearly defined set of parameters, why many people are confused as to the exact type of ailment they might be experiencing.
Those Who Suffer
At some time in your life, you stand an 80% chance of developing acute lower back pain. Many people just live with chronic lower back pain and consider it a part of life. Every day, at least 15 people out of 100 state that they have some type of lower back pain.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
With the exact source related to the pain hard to identify, many people wonder if they will ever find relief. With so many different parts of the back working together for support, if any one of these areas becomes injured, inflamed, or tense, back pain can quickly pop up. Even a small tear in one of the spinal discs can cause excruciating pain.
Length of Lower Back Pain
Acute lower back pain, no matter the cause, will subside over time. When tissues, joints, or muscles heal, the pain subsides. Usually, no surgery is needed to repair these problems, the body heals itself. Most back pain completely disappears in six weeks. If you back pain has lasted longer than two months, consult your primary physician for further assistance.
Danger of Lower Back Pain
The chance of lower back pain being something more serious is relatively low. Rarely, a more serious condition is the reason for the back pain. However, if you have had a history of cancer, have severe pain while resting, have a fever, or have been identified by your physician has having an underlying condition related to the back, seek medical assistance immediately.
How to Recover
Although you may be tempted to lie in bed, this can actually make the surrounding muscles weaker and not able to support the spine which will cause additional problems. This doesn’t mean to return to your full exercise regime, but it does mean to return to normal activities as well as can be tolerated. Move around as often as possible to keep the blood and nutrients traveling to the injured area. Stretching is actually very beneficial to back areas that are injured. However, don’t stretch so much that more severe pain presents.
A visit to the chiropractor can help realign the joints and vertebrae of the spine. A properly aligned spine is the first step in rebuilding a stable lower back. Visit The Joint at one of our 350 locations to begin your path to a pain free lower back.