According to the CDC, more than 39% of adults experience back pain on a regular basis.
Dr. Jaideep Chunduri with patient. Photo provided.
Whether we’re sitting, standing, walking, running or just grabbing, our backs work. Is it any wonder that more than 39% of adults experience back pain on a regular basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control? Some other research states that up to 80% of adults will experience some type of back pain in their lifetime. Before social distancing and Covid-related absenteeism, surveys even showed that back pain was the second leading cause of sick leave (after the common cold).
So we have dr. Jaideep Chunduri, a board-certified spine surgeon at Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Lawrenceburg and Beacon West, asked what the most common causes of back pain are. Here is his list:
These can occur when bending, twisting, stretching, or grasping. The pain from these strains and sprains can range from mild to severe.
Pressure on these nerves can cause pain, numbness, and weakness. This pain can occur in the cervical (neck to arms) and lumbar (buttocks to legs) spine, depending on the location and amount of compression.
Herniated discs get their name from hernias, which occur when an organ pushes through the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. These occur most commonly in the intestines and abdominal wall. Sometimes, however, the gel-like fluid in the center of a disc collapses — pushing through the fibrous outer wall, resulting in a large bulge that can press on nearby nerve roots and cause pain. Think of it as the jelly from the inside of a jelly donut squirting out. Pain from a herniated disc can occur at the fracture site or in other places, such as the arms or legs.
Bulging discs cause less pain than herniated discs simply because they don’t protrude far enough to press on a nerve. However, they often develop into a full-blown herniated disc over time. Therefore, it is important to prevent them and take care of them – even before they are painful.
Degenerative disc disease is the culmination of the effects of aging on the body and spine. As you age, your body dries out. This narrows the spaces between the discs, changing the height and space available for nerves. This resulting excess pressure on the spine can cause pain. Just because you have a herniated or herniated disc doesn’t mean you have to be in pain.
Even with these statistics, and given all the possible causes, back pain is not inevitable. As with any physical activity, stretching before and after exercise is important. Here are some exercises you can do to reduce back pain in the long term:
If you injure yourself now, be sure to avoid activities that put extra strain on your spine. Take short rest breaks throughout the day (lie flat on a soft surface), take a short walk or stretch about every 20 minutes. Apply heat or cold to the problem area to reduce discomfort or swelling and inflammation. Consider using over-the-counter medications approved by your doctor. Maybe an anti-inflammatory will help.
However, if your back pain becomes severe or doesn’t improve after two weeks of using these home remedies, it may be time to see a doctor who specializes in your situation. “I want to help patients achieve their goals,” said Dr. Chunduri. “We talk about what he or she wants to achieve with the treatment. And together we develop the best treatment plan to get there.”
Beacon Orthopedics treats patients of all ages for a variety of injuries and conditions. You can always schedule a diagnostic appointment at one of the Beacon locations in the area. And if you get injured, you can easily go to one of the Saturday morning accident and emergency clinics or to emergency care facilities in the area. Visit www.beaconortho.com or call 513-354-3700 to find a Beacon location near you or to schedule an appointment.
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