Severe Back Pain

Back pain is as common a condition as headache. It can be seen in people of any age group, however, it is more common in middle-aged people. It can be chronic or acute, depending on the cause. Among the different types, the lower back pain is more commonly experienced. Stress and sedentary lifestyle are the most common factors causing pain in the back.

Causes of Severe Pain in Back

Injury
Injury is one of the most common causes of back pain. Sudden movement, lifting, bending, etc. can lead to straining of the muscles or the ligaments leading to injury. On the other hand, trauma caused due to fall, blow or accident on the back can cause sudden severe back pain. Muscle injuries are usually seen in sportsmen, athletes and dancers.

Herniated Disc
Herniated disc, also known as slipped disc or ruptured disc, is the rupture or bulging of the fibrous cartilage present between two vertebrae which leads to pressing of the nerves. It mostly occurs in the lumbar region, i.e., in the lower back. Compression of the sciatic nerve leads to another painful condition known as sciatica which causes pain in lower back which shoots down into one of the legs.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the common causes of back pain in women. During pregnancy, the weight of the woman increases considerably resulting in increased pressure on the back. Over straining of the abdominal and back muscles lead to pain, specially in the lower back.

Kidney Stone
Kidney stone is caused when excess uric acid and calcium in the body gets deposited in the kidney and gets transformed into stones. Other symptoms like painful urination, nausea, vomiting are also observed simultaneously which help in quicker diagnosis of the disease.

Improper Posture
Improper posture while sitting, walking and sleeping contributes in back pain. Sitting in an improper or uncomfortable position on a chair for a long time or driving for a long time every day can cause chronic back pain in people. Similarly, lying down, rising or bending suddenly results in pain.

Apart from these, Spondylolysis, aging, obesity, muscle sprain, irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis and nerve damage are other causes. Excess or incorrect exercise patterns can also cause back pain in adults and children.

Treating Back Pain
But, one should remember that severe and sharp pain in back is a serious symptom and should not be ignored. If it persists for more than a couple of hours, one should consult the doctor immediately. If the pain is caused due to sprain or sudden straining of any muscle, painkiller medications or sprays can be used for temporary relief. In case of herniated disc, nerve damage, injury, etc. hospitalization and surgery may be required. Kidney stone treatment depends on the size of the stone. In case of smaller stones, medications are useful, whereas in other cases, surgery is required. Bed rest and pain relievers are prescribed to relieve back pain during pregnancy. There are also certain back exercises that help in giving relief.

Severe back pain can be prevented by maintaining a good lifestyle and adopting correct sitting and sleeping postures. Secondly, obesity can be prevented through diet and exercise. If you are a sportsman, you should take care while participating in sports to prevent injury to the back. Note that this information is meant only for educational purposes. It is advisable to consult the doctor for proper treatment.