Do you feel pain at your back ? Maybe it is low back pain. Low back pain is considered to be chronic if it has been present for longer than three months. Chronic low back pain may originate from an injury, disease or stresses on different structures of the body.
The type of pain may vary greatly and may be felt as bone pain, nerve pain or muscle pain. The sensation of pain may also vary. For instance, pain may be aching, burning, stabbing or tingling, sharp or dull and well-defined or vague. The intensity may range from mild to severe.
The source of the pain is not known or cannot be clearly defined. In fact, in many instances, the condition or injury that triggered the pain may be completely healed and undetectable but the pain may still continue to bother you.Even if the original cause of the pain is healed or unclear, the pain you feel is real.
It is your health care provider’s job respect your experience of pain, regardless of its cause.
What Causes Chronic Low Back Pain ?
Chronic low back pain may be caused by many different sources such as :-
1. Diseases
2. Injuries
3. Stresses
How is Chronic Low Back Pain Diagnosed ?
Chronic low back pain need to get clarification of the diagnosis. Serious injuries and illnesses can often be diagnosed or ruled out based on the history and physical examination. Testing may include blood tests, radiography (X-ray films), bone scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnostic injections, electromyography (EMG) and many other specialized test.
|Guidelines to avoid back pain |
Treatments for Chronic Low Back Pain
Treatment can vary greatly depending on the type and source of the pain. Treatment for chronic pain includes several different general categories. These categories include physical therapy, medications, coping skills, procedures and complementary medicine treatments.
Physical therapy includes patient education and a variety of stretching and strengthening exercises, manual therapies and modalities (ice, heat, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS], ultrasound, etc.) to treat pain.
Active therapies which you can continue on your own, such as exercise and strengthening, usually have the most permanent and long lasting effects.
Exercise and strengthening are designed to increase stability and strength around the structures in the back that are being stressed.
They also work to avoid deconditioning that results from decreased activity. Exercises are tailored specifically to your abilities and the type of back pain being addressed.
Source :- Know Your Back