When your back hurts, it can mess up schedules, make you late for appointments, and take your concentration away from the most important things or people. The key to treating the discomfort, aching, or sharp stabbing pain begins with identifying the type of problem you are experiencing. We talk about four kinds of back pain and how to tell each one below.
Axial pain
People often feel axial pain in the lower back. It can be a throbbing ache or soreness that persists for several days. Muscle spasms are a common symptom of axial pain. The most likely cause of this pain is a strain to the lower back muscles or the paraspinal muscles that add stability to the spine. With heat, stretches, and rest, this discomfort should go away in a week or so.
Radicular pain
While this pain often comes with a searing hot poker feeling like nerve pain, the primary cause is usually pressure or an injury to a specific nerve. It is usually localized to one area, and can be extremely intense with movement. This pain feels like it is way down in the body where you cannot touch. Physical therapy is one way to treat herniated discs and sciatica causing this pain, but surgery may be necessary for other diagnoses like spinal stenosis.
Referred pain
Referred pain is a problem that often shows up with arthritis, joint issues, and degenerative disc disease. These problems will be a source of discomfort for life, so seeking relief from a back pain management facility is one of the best ways to cope with chronic bone issues and pain that moves around. The primary symptom is aching and general discomfort. The back team can provide medications, recommend physical therapies, and offer a personalized pain treatment plan.
Nerve pain
Doctors characterize nerve pain as a lightning bolt. Movement causes burning, tingling, and even numbness in the extremities. Torn discs, bone injuries, and compression injuries can cause the tissue to swell and become susceptible to chronic inflammation. Ice and anti-inflammatory medications may help this pain.
Back pain is a source of disability for many people. Determining the root cause of the issue is the best way to treat the problem. For general back pain, stretching and heating pads are often sufficient to treat the problem. Referred pain is more difficult to find and treat requiring physical exams and tests. Nerve and radicular pain require a specific plan of treatment for pain and relieving pressure on the nerves to get rid or ease symptoms.
