ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Back pain

What is back pain?

4 May 2021

This is a fairly common condition that can occur suddenly due to a fall or heavy lifting. The pain can range from aching muscles to severe pain that may radiate down the leg or neck and become more severe when bending, standing, walking, or turning away.

A healthy back should be strong, flexible, and pain-free. Its function is to support and give strength to the chest, in addition to protecting the spine. It is possible to divide the back into:

  • Cervical.
  • Thoracic.
  • Lumbar.

Made up of vertebrae and discs (made up of soft cushioning tissue). To live without pain, it is necessary to balance all three parts and have the support of strong muscles.

Anyone can get back pain, including children and adolescents, but certain factors can lead to it, such as:

  • Sedentary lifestyle.
  • Pushing with your back instead of your legs.
  • Smoking.
  • Exerting yourself excessively when performing any physical activity or doing it incorrectly.
  • Bad posture.
  • Being over 40 years old.
  • Autoimmune pathologies (arthritis, osteoarthritis, or cancer).
  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Depression or anxiety

The most common problems related to back pain include:

  • Tearing of the ring.
  • Strained muscles and ligaments.
  • Disc protrusion.
  • Disc rupture or displacement.
  • Osteoarthritis.
  • Birth defects, abnormal curvatures of the spine (scoliosis), gynecological or prostate problems.

Diagnosis and treatment Back pain

Your doctor can help you, so see them for a timely diagnosis and treatment. Once they analyze your symptoms and your medical history, they will perform a physical examination to analyze your postural habits, your muscle strength, and range of motion.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may request, in addition to laboratory tests such as blood tests, the following:

  • Discogram (disc x-ray).
  • Electromyography (electronic study of the nerves and muscles).
  • MRI.
  • Myelogram (x-ray of the nerves).
  • X-rays.
  • Computed tomography.

Back pain usually improves after treatment with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants.

Although if the pain does not subside, then you may require physiotherapy, intramuscular cortisone, the implantation of nerve stimulators, or surgery.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center, we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments Back pain

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • medlineplus.gov
  • cigna.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • medicalnewstoday.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • De la Torre CY, Noa PBY, Díaz AD. La posturologia en el dolor de espalda. Invest Medicoquir. 2020;12(1):.
  • García DJÁ, Valdés LG, Martínez TJC, et al. Epidemiología del dolor de espalda bajo. Invest Medicoquir. 2014;6(1):112-125.
  • Pomares ÁAJ, Rodríguez RT, Pomares AJA. Factores de riesgo emocionales en pacientes que sufren dolor crónico de espalda. Finlay. 2018;8(4):310-320.
  • Reguera RR, Socorro SMC, Jordán PM, et al. Dolor de espalda y malas posturas, ¿un problema para la salud?. Rev Méd Electrón. 2018;40(3):833-838.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.