Back pain eventually catches up with many of us. Around the world, 619 million people suffer from back pain. Researchers predict that by 2050, this number will rise to 843 million.
Back pain often comes with sleep problems, mental health issues, and trouble with everyday activities like playing with children or going to work. It’s now the leading cause of disability worldwide, and The Lancet Rheumatology has called it a “global epidemic.”
What Can Back Pain Tell Us?
Many people think chronic back pain mainly comes from an injury. That’s a common misconception. Often the pain doesn’t mean there is structural damage to the spine. Most back pain cases are “nonspecific,” meaning tests don’t show signs of structural damage or disease.
At some point in life, most of us will experience back pain, which typically worsens with age.
Acute back pain usually resolves within a few weeks. Chronic pain lingers for more than three months. Various studies estimate that 4-25 percent of people with acute pain go on to develop chronic pain, which is harder to manage.
Should You Rush to the Doctor?
“In most cases, back pain is not a serious cause for concern,” says Ruth Newsome, a spinal physiotherapy specialist at Sheffield Clinical Hospital. She advises waiting four to six weeks before seeing a doctor. During that time, pain can often be managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, and it helps to stay active.
Watch for worrying symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the lower body, difficulty urinating, chest pain, unexpected weight loss, and fever. If any of these occur, they may indicate a more serious issue and require immediate medical attention.
Is an MRI Scan Necessary?
An MRI scan is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool. It can show issues such as disc bulges, wear and tear, and ligament tears. Often these findings are misinterpreted as abnormalities when they are actually incidental rather than pathological. A large study in the European Journal of Pain found that MRI results do not predict current or future chronic pain. But if the results aren’t explained carefully, they can set off a harmful chain of events.
A U.S. study of about 400,000 primary care patients found that those who had MRIs for back pain were more likely later to take opioids and to have back surgery. That same group also reported more intense pain within a year.
How to Care for an Aching Back?
Many specialists share one crucial piece of advice: keep moving. Movement helps prevent back pain and can also ease it. There is no strong evidence that any specific exercise is better than others.
“The best exercise is the one you choose for yourself,” says back pain expert Professor Kieran O’Sullivan of the University of Limerick. Find an activity that is enjoyable, accessible, and affordable so you’re more likely to stick with it. Even simple walking can be beneficial, according to BBC Science Focus.
Gradually increase your activity level.
Can You Change Your Perception of Pain?
Many factors influence pain, including psychological ones such as fear, anxiety, and misconceptions about pain. Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and inactivity can also make pain worse.
Modern care offers cognitive functional therapy (CFT) in these cases. This approach addresses psychological and physical factors, as well as lifestyle. CFT helps identify the specific mix of factors affecting a person’s pain and helps them understand that pain does not always signal physical injury.
