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When should I go to the doctor if my back hurts?
It is not always necessary to see a doctor every time one's back hurts, but enduring a backache for months or years can give rise to disorders and irreversible degeneration prolems. Know when it is necessary to see a doctor and when it is urgent.
"Dry heat, a painkiller and correcting one's posture can be enough to cure a simple backache. But if the pain is intense and refuses to go away with painkillers sold over the counter, if it doesn't improve in three days or doesn't disappear in one week, don't hesitate to see your family doctor for a diagnosis. Emotional strain, stress or long periods of physical inactivity make any backache worse.
It is also advisable to see a doctor when the pain extends to an arm or a leg, or is accompanied by loss of strength, sensitivity alterations, temperature or extreme fatigue. Don't hesitate to see a doctor if it is complicating an existing illness.
Attention to ""referred pain""
When a backache is accompanied by more serious symptoms it is absolutely necessary to see a doctor urgently. Such symptoms include the sudden onset of alterations when urinating, inability to stand firmly on one's feet, loss of strength or sudden pain in both legs, as well as loss of sensitivity in the anus, the genitals or the inside of the thighs.
The combination of these symptoms and backache can be a sign of such serious illnesses as spinal stenosis, renal, uterus or prostate complaints, and even tumours, which are all common sources of the so-called ""referred pain"", because the brain can confuse the origin of pain from any organ with back pain.
Despite medical advances, the cause of backache is still uncertain. Poor muscle tone, muscular tension or spasms are the most frequent causes of the most benign backaches, which can easily be cured with home treatments. Itching or tingling in the back are unmistakable signs of arthrosis, although they could also be a sign of a more worrying disease. Problems in the joints or torn muscles or ligaments produce acute pain and should be seen by an expert.
Re-adopting the correct position
The ""deviation"" of an intervertebral disc can impinge a nerve, such as the sciatic nerve, and produce an extremely acute pain which will force us to drag one leg. With such lesions it is particularly advisable to see an osteopath, such as the specialised centres recommended here, which combine osteopathy with traditional medicine.
When the impingement is posture-related, it is advisable to learn exercises in rehabilitation centres. Repetition of these exercises will lead to a correct posture. Techniques like Yoga and Pilates are also good for aligning the back. Pilates also works the abdominal muscles, which are the best support for the back.
A massage can be enough to get rid of muscle stiffness, although repeated muscle stiffness within a short space of time may be the body's natural response to an injury. The stiffness would produce immobilisation so as to prevent further damage."
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Published in Health and Wellbeing by Susana Aretio on 15/04/2010
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