What Are the Symptoms of Back Pain?

Most people have experienced back pain sometime in their lives. The causes of back
pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other back
pain causes include accidents, muscle strains, and sports injuries. Although the causes
may be different, most often they share the same symptoms.

Symptoms of back pain can include:

Persistent aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to
the tail bone
Sharp, localized pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back -- especially after lifting
heavy objects or engaging in other strenuous activity; (pain in the upper back can also
be a sign of a heart attack or other life-threatening conditions.)
Chronic ache in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for
extended periods
Back pain that radiates from the low back to the buttock, down the back of the thigh,
and into the calf and toes
Inability to stand straight without having pain or muscle spasms in the lower back

Call Your Doctor About Back Pain If:

You feel numbness, tingling, or weakness in your groin, arms or legs; this may signal
damage to the spinal cord. Seek immediate medical help.
The pain in your back extends downward along the back of the leg; you may be suffering
from sciatica.
The pain increases when you cough or bend forward at the waist; this can be the sign of
a herniated disc.
The pain is accompanied by fever, burning during urination, or frequent and/or urgent
urination. You may have an infection.
You begin to have problems controlling your bowels or bladder; seek immediate medical
help.
Other "red flags" that could point to a serious back pain problem include:

A history of cancer
Unintentional weight loss
You have been on steroids or medication that weakens your immune system
A history of trauma
Pain that is getting worse and does not get better after you rest
Pain that has lasted more than a month
Nighttime pain
Unresponsive to earlier back pain therapies
A history of IV drug use
Treatment & Care
Back pain may be constant or sudden, mild or debilitating. Get the facts on back pain
treatments, including medication, exercise, and chiropractic care.
Treatment
Back Pain Medication Chart
Find out the benefits and risks of many different back pain medications.
Chiropractic Care and Back Pain
Get answers to your chiropractic questions -- including information on chiropractic
treatments to the controversy surrounding some of these treatments.

TENS and IDET for Back Pain

Learn how electrical nerve stimulation and electrothermal therapy are used to help
relieve back pain.
Bioelectric Therapy for Back Pain
For some types of back pain, blocking pain messages sent to the brain can help.
Nerve Blocks for Back Pain
Find out when a nerve block can help ease back pain.
Spinal Stimulation for Back Pain
Read about electrical treatment for back pain.
Back Pain and Acupuncture
Learn how acupuncture can help with back pain and why certain points on the back are
chosen for acupuncture.
TENS for Back Pain
Learn what the TENS machine is, why it is used to treat back pain, how it works, and
much more.

Sciatica Pain Relief

Learn about pain relief options for people with sciatica.

Injections for Back Pain Relief

Learn about the different types of injections you can use to help treat back pain and
how these injections are given.
Laminectomy
Laminectomy is one of the most common back surgeries.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
For back pain, some people turn to spinal decompression therapy -- either surgical or
nonsurgical. Here's what you need to know to help decide whether it might be right for
you.
Care
Lower Back Pain Home Care
Find out what home treatments may ease low back pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) involves treatment that focuses on prevention of injuries or
disabilities. PT helps to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore function and
movement.
Always ice an injury, right? Er, no — there is an exception to this rule of thumb. If you
have low back pain, you probably need heat, not ice, especially if it’s the sort of low
back pain that flares up from time to time for no apparent reason (no obvious
mechanism of injury).

Heat therapy application can help provide lower back pain relief through several
mechanisms:

 Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles surrounding the lumbar
spine. This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles,
helping to heal the damaged tissue.
  Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying
heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain
and partially relieve the discomfort.
 Heat application facilitates stretching the soft tissues around the spine, including
muscles, connective tissue, and adhesions. Consequently, with heat therapy,
there will be a decrease in stiffness as well as injury, with an increase in flexibility
and overall feeling of comfort. Flexibility is very important for a healthy back.

There are several other significant benefits of heat therapy that make it so appealing.
Compared to most therapies, heat therapy is quite inexpensive (and in many
circumstances it’s free - such as taking a hot bath). Heat therapy is also easy to do - it
can be done at home while relaxing, and portable heat wraps also make it an option
while at work or in the car.

For many people, heat therapy works best when combined with other treatment
modalities, such as physical therapy and exercise. Relative to most medical treatments
available, heat therapy is appealing to many people because it is a non-invasive and
non-pharmaceutical form of lower back pain relief.

What to do for low back pain

If you have a first-time bout with low back pain, or are in the midst of another go-round
with it, here’s what Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, professor of medicine and orthopedic surgery at
Harvard Medical School, recommends in Low Back Pain, a Special Health Report from
Harvard Medical School.

Cold and heat. At the beginning of the flare-up, start with ice or cold packs. After 48
hours, switch to gentle heat.
Rest. If you are in severe pain when sitting or standing, bed rest can be helpful. But limit
it to a few hours at a time, for no more than a couple days.
Exercise. An exercise program can help the healing process during an acute flare-up,
prevent repeat episodes of back pain, and improve function if you have chronic low back
pain. Work with your doctor or physical therapist to develop a suitable exercise plan.
Medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or an NSAID like
aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, are usually all that is needed to relieve acute low back
pain. They work best when taken on a regular schedule, rather than after the pain flares
up.