Any injury to the spinal cord, nerves, muscles, connective tissues or joints in the lower back can cause back pain. Back pain is one of the top reasons why people miss work or are unable to perform their daily tasks. It is also amongst the leading causes of disability worldwide!
You may have acute back pain if your pain lasts for more than six weeks. Acute back pain refers to problems with your spinal vertebrae, discs, joints, or soft tissues.
Causes of Acute Back Pain
- Repeated weight lifting can strain your spinal ligaments and back muscles. Therefore, ligament or muscle strain is a common cause of acute back pain.
- Discs between your spinal joints act as cushions, enabling swift movement. Any damage to these discs can press or rupture the spinal nerve, resulting in acute back pain.
- People with arthritis are more likely to experience acute back pain. For example, osteoarthritis affects the lower back, narrowing the space around the vertebra.
- Your body is highly susceptible to acute back pain if you have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures as it makes your bones brittle and porous.
The following symptoms can help you understand your condition better if you’re unable to determine whether you have acute or regular back pain!
Symptoms of Acute Back pain
You might have acute back pain if:
- Your back is too sore or tender to touch
- Your pain worsens with laughing, sneezing, or moving
- You experience body stiffness
- Find it challenging to sit or stand up
- You have muscle spasms surrounding your spine
- Swelling
- Bruises in the lower back
- Pain radiating down one or both legs
Symptoms of Back Injury
It’s essential to differentiate acute back pain from a back injury to determine the right treatment options for yourself. Here’s how you can tell between a severe back injury and acute back pain:
- Back injury will make it difficult for you to breathe
- Blood in the urine is another symptom of a back injury
- Fever
- Paralysis
- Numbness or tingling of feet, hands, and legs.
When to See a Doctor?
You may try a few home remedies to treat your back pain. Ice packs, heat pads, massages, over-the-counter medications, etc., are common ways to treat lower back pain. However, you should see a doctor immediately if:
- Your back pain continues for weeks
- No home remedy is working out for you!
A doctor may recommend professional massage therapy, physiotherapy, or acupuncture treatment to ease your acute back pain.
If you’re looking for effective acupuncture or massage services in Lancashire, reach out to 5 Star Clinic Ltd. Out healthcare practitioners provide a myriad of services to soothe chronic pains. For more information about our services, contact us today!