THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP / ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
Back pain is just a sucker. If you are among the over 619 million people who are affected by it, you will understand me perfectly. If you are among the lucky ones not to experience it, trust me, you don’t truly appreciate what you have. Seriously, imagine not being able to sit for even a little time without feeling chronic pain in your back. Or having to think multiple times before bending to pick something off the ground because of the anticipation of a crazy pain deep in your back. It’s crazy.
However, there is good news for people affected by back pain – it is the condition for which the greatest number of people benefit from rehabilitation. So, it’s manageable. And in this article, I will examine exactly how you can try to get on top of back pain using medications and other non-medication methods. But before I dive into that, you should first understand why your back pain is even happening at all, which is an important bit to consider when attempting to manage the condition.
There are different types of back pains, with people differentiating them based on their location, the type of pain experienced, and the attendant symptoms. However, the primary classification of back pain is on the basis of its duration, and then you have two main groups: acute and chronic. If it lasts less than six weeks, that’s acute. More than six weeks, and you’re looking at chronic back pain.
Most times, the cause of acute back pain is known. Like maybe you went too hard on the back exercises in the gym or spent far too long bending to mow the lawn. On the other hand, the cause of chronic back pain may not be known. In fact, many times, it develops so slowly that you don’t truly notice it after it has become a serious problem. Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain among adults.
Regardless of the classification of back pain, the most significant cause and risk factor is aging. The older you get, the more likely your chances of having back pain. So, why then do you have back pain at 30? Well, because there are many causes. There’s muscle strain, herniated discs, arthritis, and even bad posture. You may even have back pain, of which the cause is absolutely unknown.
Now to the management of back pain. Let’s start with medications.
The default option is painkillers, and you can get the over-the-counter ones that do not need a prescription. These can be NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol). Then, if the pain gets severe, you may need to get in touch with your doctor to consider stronger painkillers, like opioid medications (morphine). There are also epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, and trigger point injections.
While medications are important in providing short-term relief from back pain, they are not a viable long-term option. In case you were wondering, it’s because all medications have their side effects, and this applies to painkillers, too. For example, long-term use of acetaminophen can damage the kidney. For ibuprofen, after prolonged use, ulcers begin to form in the stomach. I don’t even think I need to mention the risks associated with opioid use.
The non-medication approaches to managing back pain are diverse. For starters, if you know the direct cause or contributing factors to the back pain, remove them. So, if you think posture is the cause of your back pain, adjust your posture, ensuring your back is well-supported if you have to sit for long and your back is in an upright position. If you have been putting too much muscle strain, please take a break. Your back is also pleading.
Then, you can consider physical therapy and different exercise routines that strengthen the back muscles. This is tricky, though. With the wrong exercise, you can easily worsen your condition. So, try to talk to a physical therapist before commencing workout routines on your back.
What’s more, you can make necessary lifestyle changes, like improving your diet, reducing stress levels in the body, practicing relaxation techniques, and considering meditation and other mindfulness practices. All of these practices can help you maintain a healthy weight and overall health, which contribute to how your body responds to back pain.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor, DO, a Board-Certified Internist; Board certified Pediatrician who works as a Hospitalist and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless.
He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice, Mobile Medicine NJ; House Call Doctors. He is also currently pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Leadership at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
References
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain
- https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-relieving-back-pain
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/back-pain/7-ways-to-treat-chronic-back-pain-without-surgery
- https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/managing-chronic-back-pain/
