Eighty to ninety percent of people in the United States will
suffer from back pain during their lifetime. Back pain is the second most common
reason for visits to the doctor. It is also a direct cause of enormous health
care expenses.
Causes of low back pain
Back strain is by far the leading cause (80 percent to 85
percent of cases) of low back pain in the United States. Other causes include:
- Disc herniation: A herniated disk is a rupture of the fibrocartilage
surrounding the invertebral disk. Pressure from the vertebrae above and
below the disk squeeze the cushioning substance (nucleus pulposus) out
of the disk. The nucleus pulposus can press against spinal nerve roots.
This can be very painful and cause nerve damage if not treated properly.
- Osteoarthritis/spinal stenosis: This is characterized by the constriction or narrowing of the vertebral canal.
- Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis is the partial forward dislocation of
one vertebra over the one below it. Usually the fifth lumbar is
dislocated over the first sacral vertebra.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that first affects the spine and adjacent structures. As the disease progresses, vertebrae will fuse together. This disease has a strong hereditary tendency and primarily affects men under 30 years of age.
- Infection
- Cancer
- Fracture
- Nonspinal causes: Nonspinal causes of low back pain include abdominal aortic aneurism, kidney stone, infection, or stomach ulcer.
Diagnosing and treating back pain
Most back injuries will heal with a conservative treatment
approach. Extensive testing, including X-rays, MRI/CT scans, EMGs, and lab tests
are necessary in only a small number of cases. If the pain is caused by trauma,
a neurological change, persistent fever, or if the patient is losing weight, one
or more of these imaging test may be done immediately.
Usually, with conservative treatment, the pain will subside
within four to seven days. Conservative treatment includes bed rest (no more
than 2 to 3 days), acetaminophen (non-aspirin over-the-counter pain killer) or
an anti-inflammatory medication, and cold packs to diminish swelling and muscle
spasm. If there is no improvement after four to seven days, contact your doctor.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 8/10/2009...#7936
