Capital Regional Spine Center
2770 Capital Medical Blvd., Suite 200, Tallahassee, FL 32308Phone:850.877.0468 | Fax: 850.877.1232
Office Hours: Monday - Wednesday 8:00am - 3:00pm, Thursday 8:00am - 2:00pm
Friday - Open for scheduling and phone consultations
Patient Education
Frequently Asked Questions About Back Pain
How Common Is Back Pain?
Back pain affects approximately 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lifetime. It is one of the most common medical problems in America.
What Are the Risk Factors for Back Pain?
Although anyone can have back pain, a number of factors increase your risk. They include:
Age - The first attack of low back pain typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 40.
Fitness level - Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine. "Weekend warriors" - people who go out and exercise a lot after being inactive all week - are more likely to suffer injuries than those who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact aerobic exercise is good for the discs that cushion the vertebrae.
Heredity - Some causes of back pain, including disc disease, may have a genetic component.
Race - African American women, for example, are 2 to 3 times more likely than white women to develop spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra of the lower spine slips out of place.
The presence of other diseases - These include various forms of arthritis and cancers elsewhere in the body that may spread to the spine.
Occupational risk factors - Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling can lead to injury and back pain. An inactive job or a desk job may also lead to or contribute to pain, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair.
Smoking - Although smoking may not directly cause back pain, it increases your risk of developing low back pain. F or example, smoking may lead to pain by blocking your body's ability to deliver nutrients to the discs of the lower back. Or repeated coughing due to heavy smoking may cause back pain. Furthermore, smoking can slow healing, prolonging pain for people who have had back injuries, back surgery, or broken bones.
Can Back Pain Be Prevented?
One of the best things you can do to prevent back pain is to exercise regularly and keep your back muscles strong. Exercises that increase balance and strength can decrease your risk of falling and injuring your back and breaking bones. Exercises such as Tai Chi and yoga - or any weight-bearing exercise that challenges your balance - are good ones to try.
Eating a healthy diet also is important. For one thing, eating to maintain a healthy weight - or to lose weight if you are overweight - helps you avoid putting unnecessary stress and strain on your back. To keep your spine strong, as with all bones, you need to get enough calcium and vitamin D every day. Most adults don't get enough so talk to your doctor about how much you need per day.
Practicing good posture, supporting your back properly, and avoiding heavy lifting when you can may all help you prevent injury. If you do lift something heavy, keep your back straight. Don't bend over the item; instead, lift it by putting the stress on your legs and hips.
When Should I See A Doctor For Pain?
In most cases, it is not necessary to see a doctor for back pain because pain usually goes away with or without treatment. However, a trip to the doctor is probably a good idea if you have numbness or tingling, if your pain is severe and doesn't improve with medications and rest, or if you have pain after a fall or an injury. It is also important to see your doctor if you have pain along with any of the following problems: trouble urinating; weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs; fever; or unintentional weight loss. Such symptoms could signal a serious problem that requires treatment soon.
How Is Back Pain Diagnosed?
Diagnosing the cause of back pain requires a medical history and a physical exam. If necessary, your doctor may also order medical tests.
During the medical history, your doctor will ask questions about the nature of your pain and about any health problems you and your close family members have or have had. Questions might include:
- Have you fallen or injured you back recently?
- Does your back feel better - or hurt worse - when you lie down?
- Are there any activities or positions that ease or aggravate your pain?
- Is your pain worse or better at certain times of the day?
- Do you or any family members have arthritis or other diseases that might affect the spine?
- Have you had back surgery or back pain before?
- Do you have pain, numbness and/or tingling down one or both legs?
During the physical exam, your doctor may:
- Watch you stand and walk
- Check your reflexes
- Check for fibromyalgia
- Check for muscle strength and sensation
- Check for signs of nerve root irritation
Often a doctor can find the cause of your pain with a physical and medical history alone. However, depending on what the history and exam show your doctor may order medical tests to help find the cause.
The following are some tests your doctor may order:
- X rays
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan
- Blood tests
Only with a medical history and exam - and sometimes medical tests - can a doctor diagnose the cause of back pain. Many times, the precise cause of back pain is never known. In these cases, it may be comforting to know that most back pain gets better whether or not you find out the cause.
How Is Back Pain Treated?
Treatment for back pain generally depends on what kind of pain you experience:
- Acute back pain - Acute back pain usually gets better on its own and without treatment, although you may want to try acetaminophen (such as Tylenol®), aspirin, or ibuprofen to help ease the pain. Getting up and moving around can help ease stiffness, relieve pain, and have you back to your regular activities sooner. Exercises are not usually advisable for acute back pain, nor is surgery.
- Chronic back pain - Treatment for chronic back pain falls into two basic categories: the kind that requires an operation and the kind that does not. In the vast majority of cases, back pain does not require surgery. Doctors will almost always try non-surgical treatment before recommending surgery.
Content excerpted from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Link: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Back_Pain/default.asp
