By:

Dr Ajit Singh (Consultant Brain and Spine Surgeon, Mewar Hospital)

Dr Yashpal Rathore (Consultant Brain and Spine Surgeon, Mewar Hospital)

Stop Smoking, Do Regular Exercises, Maintain proper body weight – and chances are that you may among the lucky 20% of population that do not need to visit the doctor complaining of body pain.

Back Pain is understood to be the second most common reason triggering a visit to the doctor and the fifth most common reason demanding hospitalization. 80% persons will experience severe low back pain at some points in their lives, especially in the age group of 45-65 years, as this age group is found to be the most vulnerable.

Common causes of Lower Back Pain are heavy physical work, bending or twisting, lifting heavy weights and standing or sitting for too long in one position.

In most cases, conservative activity and treatment can do the trick, if you complain of regular back pain, some of which are:

• Simple but complete rest for 2 to 3 days and not more. Longer rest periods result in lethargy and weakness.
• Avoid activities that increase pain – lifting, bending, sitting in one position for a long time, etc.
• Cold or hot fomentation can be done. As soon as the pain decreases, one should start the back strengthening exercises. The exercises are taught and explained at hospitals and should be done regularly.

Severe pain, though, can be temporarily reduced with analgesics prescribed by your doctor.

The main structures in our back which produce the pain are disc, vertebral bodies and facet joints. Any alteration or damage to any of these structures gives rise to the pain.

The common diseases are Prolapsed Inter Vertebral Disc (also called as Slip Disc), Canal Stenosis (due to Aeging), infections like Tuberculosis, Tumors (Swelling) and Trauma.

If the pain persists or one of the following symptoms occur, like Bowel or Bladder Dysfunction, Leg Weakness, Shooting Pain/Numbness or Tingling in Legs and inability to Ambulate, then an immediate visit to the doctor is warranted. The treatment required will be immediate and will possibly rule out any requirement of Surgery, which of course, is needed in very few cases.