How Can You Care For Yourself At Home
There are several things you can do at home to help reduce your pain. For example:
- Rest. If your back hurts a lot, take a break. But try not to let too much time pass before you get moving again. Instead, return to your activities slowly.
- Use over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . These can reduce pain and swelling. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
- Use over-the-counter muscle relaxants, such as methocarbamol . These can relax muscles and may reduce pain, but they may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Use a heating pad or ice pack. Heat can reduce pain and stiffness. Ice can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Exercise. Exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles in your back, shoulders, and stomach can help improve your posture, decrease your chance of injury, and reduce pain.
- Practice good posture. Be sure to stand or sit tall. Don’t slump or slouch.
- Learn ways to reduce stress. You might try deep breathing and relaxation exercises or meditation.
Causes Of Upper Back Pain
The course of upper back painand how to treat itdepends on the underlying cause of the condition. Even in cases where it seems obvious what started the upper back pain, such as an injury from a fall, the specific source of pain within the body can sometimes remain elusive.
Regardless of whether the exact source of upper back pain can be determined, it helps to know the various potential causes in order to better narrow down which treatments may be best.
Herniated Disk In The Lower Back
The backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between the bones are soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance. These disks cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. Although people talk about a slipped disk, nothing actually slips out of place. The outer shell of the disk ruptures, and the jelly-like substance bulges out. It may be pressing on a nerve, which is what causes the pain.A slipped disk is more likely to happen due to strain on the back, such as during heavy lifting, and older individuals are at higher risk.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: lower back pain, moderate back pain, back pain that shoots down the leg, back pain that gets worse when sitting, leg weakness
Urgency: Primary care doctor
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How Is Back Pain Treated
Acute back pain usually gets better on its own. Acute back pain is usually treated with:
- Medications designed to relieve pain and/or inflammation
- analgesics such as acetaminophen and aspirin
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen may be sold over the counter some NSAIDS are prescribed by a physician
- muscle relaxants are prescription drugs that are used on a short-term basis to relax tight muscles
- topical pain relief such as creams, gels, patches, or sprays applied to the skin stimulate the nerves in the skin to provide feelings of warmth or cold in order to dull the sensation of pain. Common topical medications include capsaicin and lidocaine.
Exercising, bed rest, and surgery are typically not recommended for acute back pain.Chronic back pain is most often treated with a stepped care approach, moving from simple low-cost treatments to more aggressive approaches. Specific treatments may depend on the identified cause of the back pain.
Kevin Roopnarine Dc Aprn
Dr. Roopnarine values education and strives to utilize all that he has learned to help provide the best possible care to all of his patients. Throughout his career, Dr. Roopnarines utmost concern was maintaining the highest standard of care and he takes pride in providing excellent treatment to support patients throughout their journey to optimum health.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science in biology from the prestigious Stony Brook University in New York. After completion of his undergraduate studies, he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, Florida campus where he attained his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. He then decided to further his education and obtained board certification in neurology and his fellowship in neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine. Following this, Dr. Roopnarine continued to pursue additional training as an advanced practice registered nurse in order to further expand his skill set and proficiency as a well-rounded healthcare provider. In addition to being a dual board-certified family nurse practitioner, Dr. Roopnarine also maintains his certification in emergency medical services with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and hopes to, one day, again volunteer his time to serve the community.
Dr. Roopnarine always aspires to be the best at what he does and at B3 Medical he hopes to utilize all that he has accomplished to bring high-quality healthcare to all of our patients.
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Is Lower Right Back Pain Serious
Lower right back pain can vary in severity. You will probably have the best idea of your pain level and when you should see a physician.
- Not serious: Mild pain may come on fairly suddenly after exercise and responds to rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Moderately serious: In some cases, an injury that at first seems minor can become worse over time. Back injuries can easily become chronic if not treated quickly.
- Serious: If your back pain interferes with your normal activities and is becoming severe, you should see a physician as soon as possible.
Your Doctor May Want To Order Some Studies:
Diagnostic Studies: Depending on the most likely concern, your doctor may order any of a number of basic laboratory studies to detect anemia, inflammation, and elevated levels of proteins or markers in your system. Urinalysis may reveal blood, bacteria or reveal a renal stone.
In infections, specific tests can reveal the presence of infectious agents before the actual source is revealed. A TB skin test should be placed, if you have traveled anywhere that that disease is common, or have simply been around someone who has had the disease.
X-rays and Imaging: Some problems are only visualized on x-rays when significant bone destruction has occurred. A bone scan may be necessary to identify fractures, infections or tumors in their earliest phase. More often, MRI can screen the whole spine, and shows the soft tissue elements inside and outside the spinal column.
However, among patients with a recent osteoporotic spine fracture, x-rays are the best way to quickly and accurately detect a new fracture and determine how much collapse has occurred.
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Risk Factors For Developing Upper Back Pain
There tends to be an increased risk for back pain as a person ages, but that correlation does not hold up as well in the upper back compared to the neck and lower back. Some research indicates that adolescentsparticularly older adolescentsare at higher risk for upper back pain compared to other age groups.1
Other risk factors for developing upper back pain include having weakened core and back muscles, female gender, other musculoskeletal pain, and poorer mental health.2
Why Is Lower Back Pain Such A Common Problem
The bottom part of your back typically has just five vertebrae fewer than your neck and mid-back. And these vertebrae do a lot of heavy lifting! Your lower back is where your spine connects to your pelvis, bearing the weight of your upper body. This area experiences a lot of movement and stress, which may lead to wear, tear and injuries.
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Upper Right Back Pain Under Shoulder Blade
Muscle strain, sprains, and spasms can affect the rhomboid muscles, which are located in the middle of the shoulder blades. This pain is mostly felt in the middle of the upper back, but may radiate out to one or both sides.
Pain under or near your shoulder blade can make it hard to rotate your shoulder fully, or move your arm with full range of motion. This type of pain is often caused by muscle strain, resulting from overuse. It can also happen if you sleep in an odd position, or have poor posture.
If pain in or under the shoulder blade does not dissipate with home treatment within a few days, it may also signal more serious conditions in the lungs or gallbladder.
Musculoskeletal Pain In The Middle Back
The back is lined with a large number of muscles that help maintain posture, there are also ligaments and joints that provide elasticity or stiffness depending on their state.
For their part, the bones of the spinal column, in addition to providing support, contain important structures inside them, such as the spinal cord from which all the nerves and blood vessels come out and arrive.
If the pain in the middle back is due to a musculoskeletal problem, the symptoms that may appear include:
- Rigidity.
- Pain when trying to move the area.
- Pain that worsens with bending or trying to exert yourself.
- Muscle contracture.
If the discomfort started after making an effort that you do not usually do, it appeared after a blow or you usually have these pains on a frequent basis and you relate it to a task you do, it is possible that the problem is caused by a problem at the bone or muscle level . Possible causes include:
- Contracture or muscle spasms .
- Osteoarthritis : it is the inflammation of the joints. It can occur in various areas of the body, including the spine.
- Scoliosis: is the deviation of the spine from the midline. It can cause joint pain or chronic muscle contractures.
- Osteoporosis: it is the decrease in bone mineralization. Fractures can occur.
- Herniated disc : it is the exit of a soft material that is between two vertebrae of the spine.
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Overview Of Middle Back Pain
Middle back pain is pain or discomfort in the area between your upper and lower back . Middle back pain can be mild or severe, short-lived, or longer-lasting. You may feel it all the time or on and off. Middle back pain is not as common as lower back pain because the spine is not as mobile in this section.
The thoracic spine is made up of 12 vertebrae, discs that separate the bones from each other and absorb shock, and muscles and ligaments that hold the spine together.
If you are experiencing middle back pain, Find a Doctor near you today.
Persistent And Unremitting Back Pain
Unremitting pain typically raises the same fear in patients and care-givers a concern for cancer. Back pain is the presenting symptom in most patients with cancer that has moved into the spine. Patients who already know they have a cancerous condition should alert their doctors to order specific imaging studies without delay.
Patients with spinal cancer usually experience a different kind of pain from that in common back and neck injuries. Ordinary back pain is usually related to activity, relieved by rest and is often associated with a recognized lifting or physical injury. It may seem to linger forever, but in reality, it typically begins to get better after about four to six weeks of rest.
Instead of getting better with rest, pain caused by a spinal tumor is persistent, progressively getting more intense over time, and is not relieved by rest. Pain may actually feel worse at night, and feel a bit better when you are up and around. Thoracic back pain may be associated with belt-like burning pain around the torso, and lower back pain may be accompanied by symptoms of pain or weakness in the legs similar to what we see in a disc herniation.
Since the most common cause of a spinal cancer is a metastasis from cancers of the lungs, breasts, prostate, kidneys, colon and thyroid, these organs should be thoroughly checked by your doctor when cancer is suspected.
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Chronic Low Back Pain Of No Specific Origin
Low back pain is defined as pain, tightness, and stiffness between the lower end of the rib cage and the buttocks. “Chronic” means the pain has lasted for twelve weeks or longer, and “no specific origin” means the pain cannot be traced to any specific cause, incident, or injury.
Most susceptible are individuals who perform heavy physical work, especially when there is ongoing anxiety, depression, and emotional stress at the same time. The longer the stress and back pain continue, the more difficult it is to ease the symptoms and return the patient to normal functioning.
Treatment involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sometimes opioid medications for pain, though both have risks when used long term. Antidepressants may also be tried, along with psychological counseling.
Corticosteroid injections for the back are effective for some patients, and fusion surgery is sometimes attempted. Lifestyle changes in the form of improved diet, exercise, and stress management are very helpful in most cases.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: lower back pain, unintentional weight loss, back pain that shoots to the butt, fever, involuntary defecation
Symptoms that always occur with chronic low back pain of no specific origin: lower back pain
Symptoms that never occur with chronic low back pain of no specific origin: thigh numbness, buttocks numbness, lower back pain from an injury
Urgency: Primary care doctor
Are There Psychological Factors That Drive Morning Pain
The book Back Sense proposes that morning back pain is caused by stressful night-time mental patterns manifesting as back pain. I do not generally dismiss the role of psychology in back pain. Its actually a major theme in my writing about back pain. See The Mind Game in Low Back Pain. But I do think that author is indulging in a simplistic mind-body connection theory. Ive written crankily about this kind of logic elsewhere .
Its a bit of a reach to say that you have such a problematic, pain-causing mental state like clockwork every morning between 6am and 7am exclusively. Applying How to Simplify Chronic Pain Puzzles to the problem, it is much more likely that there is simply a time limit on how long you can lie in bed without tissue crankiness.
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Pain In The Middle Back: Causes And Treatment
The back is an area of the body that we do not usually pay too much attention to until some discomfort appears.
Pain in the dorsal area is often associated with a muscle disorder, but this is not always the cause. Lung, cardiovascular, kidney or digestive problems can cause back pain, among other symptoms.
Continue reading this article by FastlyHealand find out what are all the causes of pain in the middle back and its treatment .
Index
What Are Possible Complications Of Neck And Back Pain
Complications of back and neck pain may include:
- Loss of productivity. Back pain is the most common reason for disability in working adults.
- Nerve damage. If your back pain is from a herniated disk, pressure on the spinal nerves may cause a variety of problems, such as weakness, numbness, or severe shooting pain that travels from the back to the leg.
- Depression. Back or neck pain can disrupt all aspects of life. This includes work, physical exercise, social activities, and sleep. The anxiety and stress caused by the change in movement and pain can lead to depression.
- Weight gain. Loss of movement and inability to exercise can lead to weight gain and the loss of muscle strength.
It is a good idea to see a healthcare provider if you have numbness or tingling, or if your pain is severe and does not get better with medicine and rest. If you have trouble urinating, weakness, pain, or numbness in your legs, fever, or unintentional weight loss, call your healthcare provider right away.
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Muscle And Ligament Pain
Your back muscles and ligaments are one of the frequent sources of mid-back pain. The pain can localize to one side .
The pain results from the affection of the muscles in the right mid-back by either:
- Muscle or tendon strain: pulling, twisting, or pulling of a muscle or its fibrous ligament.
- Ligament sprain: stretching or tearing a ligament .
Causes:
- A sudden awkward movement: leads to an over-stretch of your back muscles.
- Over-weight.
- Prolonged sitting or sleeping .
- The pain usually improves with rest.
Symptoms :
- Character: aching, shooting, or stabbing sensation in the mid-back.
- Related to movement: bending, standing up, or any move triggers the right mid-back pain. movement
- Worse in certain positions: the pain is more when you hold specific postures .
- In most cases, the pain heals after 1 or 2 weeks.
- Tender: touching or pressing the affected muscle or ligament exaggerates the pain.
Muscle and ligament-related mid-back pain are the easiest to detect. Its characteristic relation to movement and posture makes it easy to diagnose.
The affected muscles and ligaments include:
- The muscles and ligaments between the ribs .
- Big muscles of the back as Trapezius, Latismus Dorsi muscle, and others.
Treatment:
Your doctor has to confirm the diagnosis. Then, he will perform a physical exam and may require investigations such as x-ray or abdominal ultrasonography.
If you get the diagnosis of back muscle strain, you can benefit from the following treatments.
Lower Right Back Pain Symptoms
The back provides both strength and stability to the entire body, leaving it vulnerable to many kinds of injury. It’s possible for even severe back pain to be confined to just one side of the back. When the pain is entirely on the lower right side, it may suggest a specific type of injury or illness, and it’s important to have it examined. Low back pain is also called lumbago or sciatica.
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Tim Bain Dc Faaim Ccsp Emhl
When the Tampa Bay Lightning players need a doctor they can trust, they turn to Dr. Tim Bain. He is the doctor in the Lightning locker room, keeping players healthy on and off the ice.
But caring for the Lightning and other top professional and elite athletes is just one of Dr. Bains passions.
A leading innovator in healthcare, Dr. Bain is passionate about reforming healthcare to be less focused on medication and surgeries when people are sick and more focused on optimizing health and keeping people well. Thats why he brought together a team of innovative specialists and formed B3 Medical.
A former research scientist at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bain is a graduate of the Executive Master of Healthcare Leadership Program at Brown University, where he won the Inaugural Healthcare Leadership Award for Innovation in Healthcare. He also holds a Doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University and a B.S. in biology, focusing on Psychology from Manhattan College.
Dr. Bains greatest passion is family, his wife, and two children, and somehow he also finds time to coach dozens of children, including his son, in Minor Hockey.