Back problems and treatments

Back problems affect many people and can be brought on by a range of factors. Issues can start with no explanation but usually the problems aren't due to any serious damage or disease.

The main back problems someone might experience are:

• Back pain – this can be located in the muscles or joints at any point in your back
• Uncomfortable sensations in the back – this could include numbness, tingling, pins and needles or shooting pain
• Pain or sensation in the legs or feet caused by the back
• Stiffness in the back, neck or muscles
• Sudden or debilitating pain in your back which prevents you from moving

We take a look at the most common back problems, their causes and the available treatments, and consider some of the ways that you can ease your own back problems at home.

Back pain

Back pain is the most common back problem, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. It is more common in people who are less fit and active, and also becomes more common as we get older.

For a small number of people, back pain can severely affect their everyday lives and tasks they can perform. However, on the whole, most people can improve their back pain through rest, simple lifestyle changes such as being more active or performing certain exercises, and where necessary taking appropriate medication to manage the pain and related symptoms.

One of the best ways to improve back problems is to engage in simple exercises like stretching. Continuing with your daily activities is also recommended so that your back can move about and is less likely to ‘seize’ up. Gentle exercise such as swimming can also help to improve back pain and relax your back to minimise symptoms.

You may encounter different types of back pain and often the type and location of your pain can indicate the underlying cause. Common causes of back pain include:

Muscle pain

Muscle pain can come from a range of sources such as injuries, medication, or infections and diseases. It can be short-term pain or longer-term pain depending on the source. Some causes of muscle pain include:

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

If you are new to exercise or increase your physical activity in an exercise routine you may suffer from DOMS. This may can be uncomfortable and often come on after you have relaxed after a workout. The pain can last up to 48 hours after your workout.

This is caused by tiny microscopic tears in the muscle, but it is nothing to worry about. As the muscle repairs itself, you get stronger.

Autoimmune disease

Some autoimmune diseases can cause painful and aching muscles, which happens because the body’s immune system starts to mistakenly attack itself. Autoimmune diseases which cause muscle pain include Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Infection

At some point everyone gets ill, and whether it is with a bacterial or viral infection, muscle pain can be among the symptoms suffered. Depending on the infection you have, you may feel achy all over or only in one specific area. Flu is a common virus that causes muscle aches and pains, and it’s common to experience these in your back.

Injuries

When you overuse a part of your body to do something, make an unfamiliar movement, or experience an accident or collision, injuries can occur. It is very common for injuries to cause sore muscles. Making sure you warm up before undertaking exercise or not overdoing a certain type of movement can limit injuries.

Dull pain

Dull pain is something that can be experienced anywhere on the body. It may at first not appear to be as ‘intense’ as other types of pain and you may feel you can ‘push through’ to continue your day-to-day life.

It can be something that lasts a short time or be more ‘chronic’ and remain there at all times. You may feel a dull pain as part of a sore muscle or bruising.

Lower back pain

Lower back pain, as the name suggests is pain located at the lower part of your back, usually below your ribs and above the tops of your legs. This is the most common place to experience back pain. Lower back pain can occur for a variety of reasons and can be related to concerns with your bones in your back, any ligaments, nerves or tendons.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition that is characterised by pain that radiates from the spine down the leg. The pain can be extremely intrusive with patients often describing a persistent burning sensation and tightness down the back of the leg. Other symptoms include pins and needles, numbness, loss of sensation and occasionally weakness.

• Find out more about sciatica

How can Sciatica be treated?

There are several ways to treat sciatica. In the first instance, you may be prescribed some form of pain relief or medication for your symptoms. You may also wish to take a look at your current daily activities and habits to see if any of them maybe causing the sciatica in case you can change your habits to reduce your symptoms.

Physiotherapy maybe offered to you along with a range of exercises to try to mobilise the sciatic nerve. Your physiotherapist will tailor these to your specific requirements.

If your symptoms are more severe, spinal injections may be recommended but any treatment will be discussed with you at length by your specialist first to ensure that the treatment is right for you.

Brachialgia

Brachialgia is where nerve roots in the cervical spine become compressed or irritated which manifests as pain in the arms. It can often be described as sciatica but in the upper body region.

How can brachialgia be treated?

Initially, your specialist may ask you to undergo a scan such as a CT scan, MRI scan, X-ray or ultrasound scan or have a physical examination to understand where the pain is coming from. Once the source of pain has been located, your specialist can discuss treatment options with you.

Your specialist may recommend you see a physiotherapist or ask you to complete a series of set exercises to loosen your muscles and reduce inflammation. In more severe cases, surgery may be considered. Your specialist will discuss all options with you to make sure the course of treatment is the right one for you.

• Find out more about brachialgia

Slipped disc (herniated disc)

A slipped disc is where the soft tissue between the bones of your spine, which usually acts like a cushion, pushes outwards. As it pushes outwards, it can press on nerves which can be painful.

A slipped disc may also be known as a prolapsed disc or a herniated disc.

How can a slipped disc be treated?

Even though you may be tempted to keep still and limit your movement, it is important to keep active where you can, making sure your back keeps moving. If the pain is very bad at first, you may need to rest initially, but as soon as you can you should aim to do some gentle exercise as soon as possible and gradually increase it as you go.

If you are in pain, over-the-counter painkillers can also be used to help remove or dampen the pain for a while and can help you with continuing to move around.

Generally, a slipped disc will get better over time while you rest at home.

Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a condition where the spine can become inflamed. The main symptom is pain. It can be diagnosed using an X-ray to detect changes in the spine.

How can ankylosing spondylitis be treated?

Sadly, ankylosing spondylitis has no cure and once damage is done it cannot be undone. Still, you can take steps to limit further damage.

A specialist may recommend that you carry out specifically tailored exercises to strengthen your back and reduce the pain and stiffness you may feel from the condition. You may also be asked to undergo physiotherapy such as getting a massage which can improve the discomfort you feel and increase the flexibility in your spine.

Finally, you may be prescribed medication such as painkillers or anti-inflammatory medication. In severe cases, surgery may also be considered to repair extremely damaged joints or correct bends in the spine.

Pulled muscle

A pulled muscle, also commonly known as muscle strain, is where your muscle fibres receive an injury or become ‘torn’. It can happen if you accidentally overstretch your muscles or make your muscles work too hard or fast.

There are different gradings of torn muscles, from grade one where there is only slight damage to grade three where there is a full tear of the muscle, accompanied by swelling and bruising around the affected area.

How can a pulled muscle be treated?

If your pulled muscle is only mild you can treat it at home. Initially, you should rest the muscle in your back, but not for too long. It is important that as soon as you can you get up and start moving again but only do what feels comfortable.

You should also use the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevate) method on the injury as well, which should reduce pain and swelling during the first few days after it happens. If you are still experiencing pain, over-the-counter painkillers can be useful during this time.

If your pulled muscle is more severe and lasts for a while, physiotherapy can be a good option to strengthen the damaged muscle. Finally, if your pulled muscle is very severe, such as if it is completely torn, you may require surgery to repair the damage.

Ligament strain

A ligament strain is a common injury where a ligament in your back may feel like it has ‘popped’ or torn. It can create pain and inflammation in your back, often accompanied by some bruising or swelling depending on the severity of the strain. You may also feel the muscle in spasm or cramping.

A ligament strain is likely to be found in athletes but also can happen as an injury from a workout or when lifting something heavy.

How can a ligament strain be treated?

In the initial stages after you feel you have strained a muscle in your back, it is advisable to use the RICE method as explained above. RICE therapy is very important to follow for the first few says after a ligament strain to reduce pain and swelling as much as possible. You may also wish to take over-the-counter painkillers to help with any pain you experience.

After the pain and swelling is reduced, it is advisable to start gently moving around and not over-rest the ligament affected. Going for regular walks and increasing your distance over time is a good idea. Your doctor may also recommend specific exercises to do while you are recovering.

Osteoarthritis of the back

Osteoarthritis is a condition where the joints in your back become painful and stiff. This is due to wear and tear over time, so it usually affects older people, though if you’re very active or have a back injury you may develop back arthritis earlier. As well as pain and stiffness, you may experience swelling or tenderness.

How can osteoarthritis be treated?

Although osteoarthritis is a condition that will affect you for the rest of your life it doesn’t always mean that it will get worse. With the right support, sometimes your condition may even improve.

If you only have mild osteoarthritis, you may be able to control symptoms by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight for your body type. Ensuring that you avoid any heavy lifting can also help your back stay in better shape.

If your symptoms are more severe, you may find you need to take painkillers or see a physiotherapist, who will advise you on special exercises to help manage your pain. In more severe cases, where the damage to joints is quite severe, you may require surgery on your back.

Other back problems

Beyond the complex umbrella term of ‘back pain’, you may also experience other sensations in and around your back area that can be a sign of concern, especially if they start to affect your quality of life.

Numbness and tingling

A tingling or numbness in your back might also be described as feeling ‘pins and needles’, a ‘stinging’ sensation or a ‘crawling’ sensation.

These feelings can occur for a range of reasons. Most commonly the cause is something harmless such as a pinched nerve or mild irritation on your back. With rest, the feeling should dissipate and go back to normal.

However, if the feelings persist or grow in intensity, it could be a sign of something more serious. If your symptoms continue, deteriorate, or you suddenly experience other symptoms such as losing control of your bladder or bowels, problems walking or a sudden weakness in your legs, then you should speak to a healthcare professional immediately.

Shooting pains

Shooting pains are caused when nerves in the body are affected which causes them to transmit sensations to the brain. It is also known as Neuralgia. As with all pain, shooting pain can be temporary or more chronic depending on your situation.

Shooting pains can be caused by a vitamin 12 or vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency; poor blood supply to the nerves; as a side effect from using certain medications; from heavy drinking; or from more serious brain, spine or nerve injuries.

If you are suffering from a viral infection such as shingles, have trapped nerves, have diabetes or have cancer, you may also experience shooting pains for these reasons too.

Can back problems cause symptoms in your legs and feet?

If you are suffering from pain or numbness in your legs and feet, it could be due to a problem in your back. As we age, parts of our body can deteriorate. Sometimes nerves in our back can become accidently ‘pinched’ or trapped, which can cause pain down our legs or feet. Other times, wear and tear or even a sudden movement can cause spinal problems, which also cause pain to radiate down your legs and into your feet.

If you are concerned that pain in your legs or your feel may be cause by back problems, speak to a medical specialist for a diagnosis.

How can I improve my back problems?

Luckily, there are many ways you can improve your back problems if you are suffering.

Movement and stretching

When your back is feeling painful or uncomfortable it can be tempting to feel like you need to not move your back or to lie down for long periods of time but this can actually make it worse. Gentle movement can help ease your back problems, even just standing up and walking around. Often, people with back problems also feel that going for a walk can ‘loosen’ their back up if they are feeling in pain or discomfort.

Stretching is also a good idea to help keep your back in as good shape as possible. Gentle stretching can help relax tight muscles. Taking a yoga or Pilates class can be a good way to stretch any tense muscles and support overall back health.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can be a great way of supporting and strengthening your back if you are experiencing problems. It is important that you do follow set, prescribed exercises to prevent any additional concerns or injuries.

Book a one-on-one consultation with a physiotherapist and they’ll take the time to understand your specific needs and requirements in order to offer treatment tailored to you. They will provide you with a range of set activities to follow to improve your back problems over time and prevent further decline. If necessary, they can suggest further treatment or refer you to a specialist.

Consider your diet

Eating a healthy balanced diet is one of the best things you can do to maintain your overall health. A healthy diet can help you to work towards or maintain a healthy weight, which can take the pressure off your back and may improve any problems you are having.

Avoid poor sitting posture

In the modern world it can be easy to sit hunched over a laptop most days for work. To avoid your back worsening further, sitting correctly while in a chair can help support your spine and relieve unnecessary pressure.

Along with a supportive office chair, you can also attach posture supports to this to help you stay seated in the correct position, and some people find a special cushion helps too. A footrest can support with maintaining a good posture too. If you work for a company, they may be able to provide these for you, so it’s worth getting in touch with them to see how they can support you in the workplace or with home working.

Lift things correctly

As you go about your daily life, if you pick up anything on the heavier side, it’s important to lift the item correctly to prevent any back problems you may have from getting worse or occurring in the first place.

This can be as simple as ensuring that when you visit the supermarket and pick up a heavier item, you don’t accidentally twist and hurt yourself. Engaging your legs rather than your back is important when lifting heavier items and remember that if it looks too big or heavy an item to carry on your own you can always ask for help.

Stop smoking

Stopping smoking is not only good for your general health but it can also help with back problems. Smoking not only reduces blood blow to the disks that cushion your vertebrae but it also reduces the amount of calcium absorption in the body. This can inhibit new bone growth and repair as well as increase the risk of osteoporosis and brittle bones.

Get help for back problems

If your back pain or other back problems are impacting your quality of life, or if you’ve suffered an injury and think you might need help recovering, get in touch with one of our back specialists. Call or book online today to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced orthopaedic consultants.