Back Pain: Prevention & Treatment

Back Pain

Back pain is a common complaint, affecting up to 80% of American adults in their lifetimes. Regardless of age, it’s significantly more common among adults aged between 35 and 55. Research shows that back pain may be painful and uncomfortable but it is not usually serious. Regardless, back pain can cause a significant physical and emotional drain on an individual and hamper one's quality of life. Symptoms include muscle aches, shooting or stabbing pain in the back, burning pain that radiates down your leg, and limited flexibility or range of motion.

Causes

1. Strain: The human back comprises a ca complex structure ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones, and disks. Segments of the spine are also cushioned with cartilage-like pads and any Problem in form of straining, lifting and awkward movement of any of these components will lead to back pain including a muscle spasm.
2. Structural problems: The human back structural components might rapture, bulge and abnormal curvature of the disk and the spine respectively will cause the back pain. When it raptures, there will be more pressure on nerves resulting in back pain.
3. Everyday activities or poor posture: An individual’s daily activities lead to some posture being acquired. Poor postures include; bending awkwardly, pushing, pulling, and lifting of things, muscle tension, standing for long periods, sitting in hunched position for a long time like driving and bending down for long periods. All this will eventually make you strain your back and acquire a poor posture that later will lead to back pain.
4. Arthritis
5. Osteoporosis
6. Cancer of the spine: If there is a tumor located on the spine, it may press against a nerve, resulting in pain. Any small discomfort the spine nerves get results to back pain due to the interruption of their compatibility. This will include infections of the spine i.e. fever.
7. Other causes: Sleep disorders, bad mattresses, drug abuse.

Prevention

• Functional Exercise – Through moving the body as in core exercises, the back is strengthened, increasing range of motion and flexibility. Options for exercise include water aerobics, stretching, aerobic exercise and strength training.
• Weight loss - Excessive weight puts additional strain on the back. Losing pounds can help to prevent back pain.
• Maintaining good posture - Avoiding hunching and other postures that put stress on the back.

Treatment

The goal of pain management for chronic back pain is to find the root cause of the pain and to develop a treatment plan that addresses those specific needs. Additionally, by controlling the pain, doctors are able to provide patients with the relief they need to participate in exercise and rehabilitation to regain strength and mobility. Furthermore, adequate treatment of chronic pain can allow individuals to return to their everyday activities, thereby improving their quality of life. Chronic back pain treatment involves the input of professionals from a number of medical disciplines. Often, it is the combination of treatment methods, rather than one specific treatment that allows chronic pain sufferers to find relief.

• Lifestyle changes
• Medication – Prescription and over the counter medication may be used to control inflammation and pain. The specific types of medication used are based on each individual’s specific medical history and physical needs.
• Nerve Blocks – Injections of medication into targeted areas can directly address nerve pain. The duration of relief depends on the location and type of medication used.
• Surgery – Surgery may be necessary to address the root cause of back pain and to provide long-term relief
• Botox injections  

Botox Injections for Back Pain

Botox injections for back pain may be used to address a number of back pain issues from chronic pain to pain caused by muscle spasm. Botox works by blocking the nerve receptor from sending and receiving signals to the brain which allows a person to feel pain. The process of receiving Botox injections for the treatment of back pain is fairly simple. Generally speaking, individuals experience relief in the first three days after receiving the injections.  Although experiences vary by individual, relief usually lasts between three and six months, at which point the procedure is repeated.  Your doctor can provide personalized information on what to expect from Botox treatment for back pain and whether the treatment option can work for you based on your medical concerns.

For additional information on the use of Botox injection for back pain, contact New York Neurology Associates.  If you would like to schedule an appointment or check for availability, please book online or call 212 987-0100.

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Author

Gary Starkman Dr. Starkman, a top Neurologist in NYC, is the Medical Director and founder of New York Neurology Associates. He is Board Certified in Neurology with a subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine.