Low back pain is a common issue experienced by people of all ages, especially among middle-aged and young adults who work for long hours in chairs without exercise or those who carry heavy loads regularly. It is rare to find someone who has not suffered from back pain at least once in their life. The pain is felt in the lumbar and sacral region and may radiate to nearby sites. While the cause of backache ranges from simple muscular strain to cancer of the spine, it is important to take backache seriously and seek appropriate treatment.
The causes of low back pain, a common symptom experienced by many people, particularly middle-aged and young adults who work sedentary jobs or frequently carry heavy loads. The pain is usually felt in the lumbar and sacral region of the spine and may radiate to nearby areas.
The causes of low back pain can range from simple muscular strain to more serious conditions such as cancer of the spine, which is why it is important not to ignore back pain. The article lists three main categories of causes for back pain: diseases in the back, gynecological problems, and problems in other parts of the body.
Diseases in the back can be caused by injuries, such as compression fractures of the vertebral column, ruptured intervertebral discs, or lumbosacral strain. They can also be functional backaches due to imbalance caused by pregnancy, pot belly, diseases of the hip joint, curvature in the spine due to congenital defects, or short legs on one side. Inflammatory conditions such as infection of the bone due to bacteria, tuberculosis of the spine, arthritis, or Brucellosis can also cause back pain. Degenerative diseases in the back, such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis in old age, can also contribute to back pain. Lastly, tumors in the spine, whether primary or metastatic, can also be a cause of back pain.
Gynecological problems such as prolapse of the uterus, pelvic inflammatory diseases, cancerous lesions of the pelvic organs, or endometriosis can also cause back pain.
Finally, back pain can also be due to problems in other parts of the body, such as renal or ureteric stones, cancer of the prostate, pancreatitis, biliary stones, peptic ulcers, inflammations of pelvic organs, or occlusion of the aorta and iliac arteries.
Investigations may include a complete blood count, routine urine examination, ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis, X-ray of the lumbar and sacral region, MRI of the spine, CT scan of the abdomen and pelvic region, and examination of rectum, prostate, and genitourinary organs.
Treatments for back pain can include removing the cause of the pain, symptomatic treatment, back exercises, traction, yoga, surgery, or homeopathy.
Let’s dive into the common causes of backache:
Backache due to diseases in the back
a) Injuries:
Injuries to the back are common causes of backache, including compression fractures of the vertebral column, rupture of intervertebral discs, injuries to ligaments and muscles of the back, lumbosacral strain, intervertebral joint injuries, and fractures of processes of the vertebra.
b) Functional backache due to imbalance:
Functional backache may arise due to imbalance, such as during pregnancy, pot belly, diseases of the hip joint, curvature in the spine due to congenital defect, and short leg in one side.
c) Backache due to inflammatory conditions:
Backache may be caused by inflammatory conditions, such as infection of the bone due to bacteria, tuberculosis of the spine, arthritis, brucellosis, lumbago or fibrositis, inflammation of the muscles, and ankylosing spondylitis.
d) Backache due to degenerative diseases in the back:
Degenerative diseases in the back can also cause backache, including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis in old people, and degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
e) Tumor in the spine:
Tumors in the spine can also cause backache, including primary tumors of the bones in the spine and metastatic tumors from other sites like prostate, lungs, kidneys, intestine, etc.
Backache due to gynecological problems
Backache may arise due to gynecological problems such as after childbirth, after gynecological operations, prolapse of the uterus, pelvic inflammatory diseases, cancerous lesions of the pelvic organs, and endometriosis.
Backache due to problems in other parts of the body
Backache may be caused by problems in other parts of the body, such as renal stones, ureteric stone, cancer of the prostate, pancreatitis, biliary stones, peptic ulcer, inflammations of pelvic organs, and occlusion of aorta and iliac arteries.
Investigation of a case of backache:
To investigate a case of backache, doctors may recommend the following tests:
- Complete blood count
- Routine urine examination
- Ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis
- X-ray of the lumbar and sacral region
- MRI of the spine
- CT scan of the abdomen and pelvic region
- Examination of rectum, prostate, genito urinary organs
Treatment of backache:
To treat backache, the following treatments may be recommended:
- Removing the cause of backache
- Symptomatic treatment
- Back exercises
- Traction
- Yoga
- Surgery
- Homoeopathy
In conclusion, backache can be caused by various factors, and it is important to understand the root of the problem before seeking appropriate treatment. If you experience backache, seek medical advice immediately to prevent the condition from worsening.
