The number one cause of chronic pain in the U.S is back pain. Specifically lower back pain, which is the leading cause of missed workdays and disability. Lower back pain can be attributed to various causes including lifestyle choices, poor posture, obesity, injuries, and degenerative conditions like arthritis. However, the leading reason for so much back pain in the U.S. is initially muscle or ligament strain. These strains or overstretching of soft tissues cause microscopic tears in the muscles or ligaments that lead to inflammation and pain. Muscle and ligament strains mainly result from poor posture, sudden movements, overuse, lifting, and muscle imbalances. Some common symptoms of back pain include muscle aches, sharp pain, radiating pain, and limited flexibility. Strains oftentimes can be prevented by staying active, maintaining good posture, lifting properly, avoiding excessive stress by avoiding muscles imbalances by strengthening your core.
Too often, these are inadequately treated resulting in prolonged courses of therapy, pain, which ultimately becomes chronic or long standing.
Depending on how severe an injury is, it can be treated through lifestyles changes, physical therapy, and other medical treatments such as laser, traction, infrared therapy. Access to timely surgery when conservative conservative measures fail is also critical but is becoming much more difficult in this age with so many referrals to pain management so early on in care. Some common symptoms of back pain include muscle aches, sharp pain, radiating pain, and limited flexibility. You should see a licensed Physician for back pain when there is severe pain that does not improve with rest, pain after an injury such as a fall, weakness or numbness or radiating pain down your legs. Back pain can be assessed with a physical examination, imaging tests such as a x-ray, MRI and when indicated additional studies.
In summary, not treating back pain properly early on is what results in the number one cause of chronic pain in the USA.
