Neck And Back Pain: Potential Causes And Treatment Options

Neck And Back Pain woman

Neck and back pain are among the most common reasons for physician visits. Some can be due to severe spinal problems, while some can be from common causes.  

However, neck and back pains should be adequately checked by a professional to properly assess your condition and know the source of the pain. As a result, you’ll be given the correct treatment and the advice you need to undergo to not face the same dilemma again. 

Some neck and back pain are caused by common causes and can be solved by simple treatments and a lifestyle change. However, when it comes to serious problems involving the spine, such should be brought to a licensed doctor for assessment and treatment. For serious spinal problems, you can check out reliable medical experts like Dickinsonneurosurgery.com or one near your area.  

If you’re having neck and back pain recently and wondering what might have caused it, check out these six common causes why you’re experiencing neck and back pain.

Lifting Heavy Items Repetitively

Lifting a weighty object can be a threat factor for back pain. Such activity is the most common cause of back pains or any muscle pains that can also lead to any kind of more serious muscle problem such as paralysis if left unnoticed. This may cause muscle gain, stretching of ligaments and posterior disc, and loss of balance. Lifting a heavy box will lead to less torque to your lower back.

However, the effects may not be the same for everybody. It’ll also depend on how used you’re to lifting heavy objects. That’s why experts say that one should stretch and warm up before doing so. You should also add weight gradually not to shock your muscles.

Bad Posture 

Neck and back pain due to bad posture is mostly caused by some activities in your everyday life. Such activities can be working, sleeping, doing some house chores, sitting for a long time, bending a lot, dancing, playing, or just doing nothing. 

Take note that pain due to bad posture is sometimes unpredictable. Little activities can even cause neck and back pain especially when you don’t have the correct posture. It can happen while doing excessive home chores that require you to move your body a lot. On the other hand, simple tasks can also strain your neck and back, causing them to ache.

Bad sitting posture also can be the most common cause of back pain since this activity requires your back to be in a steady position, and when it suddenly moves, the tendencies could happen and will surely hurt you, either your neck or your back. 

Pinched Nerve 

A pinched nerve happens when there’s a lot of pressure applied to a nerve that’s surrounded by tissues, such as muscles, bones, tendons, or cartilage. This strain can cause numbness, pain, tingling, or weakness.

back pain red

Such nerve stress can arise in different areas of your body. For example, a slipped disk in the lower spine puts pressure on your nerve root which can cause pain in the back of your leg. The pinched nerve in your wrist can also cause numbness and pain in your hand and fingers.

A pinched nerve can heal after a few days or weeks of proper rest and treatment. For worse cases, surgery might be required to relieve pain.

Critical Injury 

Critical back injuries include fractures, wounds, and extensive bruising. There are also severe cases that you would probably be aware of like impairment to your spinal cord and internal organs. If you encounter critical injuries mentioned earlier, you should visit a doctor right away to prevent serious damage. 

The vertebrae are the bones in your back piled on top of each other to make your spine. A compression fracture is a type of fracture or break in your vertebrae that also causes back pain. Spinal injury or fractures most generally occur in the thoracic spine as a result of osteoporosis, but they may also occur in the lumbar spine and be caused by tumors or trauma. When a spinal contraction fracture happens in the lumbar spine, symptoms typically contain a sudden onset of pain, pain when standing or walking, and narrowed spinal mobility

Too Much Weight/Obesity

Your spine supports your weight; thus, authorizing you to move. It also guards your spinal cord and the nerves that go from it to the rest of your body. Extra weight also tends to lengthen the recovery period after an attack of back pain.

People who are obese or have a high percentage of body fat experience much more extreme pain than normal bodies have. Those who are severely overweight and experiencing back pain tend to exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue during short periods of exercise
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Pain in the leg or knee that’s more severe than pain in the back.

Muscle Strain 

Muscle, tendon, ligament, and other soft tissue injuries cause the majority of lower back pain. The two most common soft tissue injuries are muscle strains and lumbar sprains. These two injuries bring excessive stress and cause a muscle to begin to tear.

For severe strains, recovery will take several months to heal while for critical cases, surgical repairs or physical therapy may be needed. With proper treatment, most people recover completely.

Common Symptoms Of Neck And Back Pain And Their Treatment

Depending on the severity of the pain, these common symptoms can be treated at home. However, it must be approved by your doctor for security purposes.

Neck and Back Pain 

To recover from back or neck pain you must lessen or restrict your movement. You can also take medications such as over-the-counter medicines and traditional home remedies. If neck and back pain is related to muscle strain, it’ll go away on its own over days along with adequate rest.

Stiffness 

You can always ask your doctor for medications as there are numerous over-the-counter pills to relieve the pain. Along with your doctor’s approval, you can also do home remedies to relieve joint stiffness, pain, and swelling.

You can treat muscle stiffness at home by having proper rest, having a massage, and applying heat or cold compress. A hot compress is best for muscle tightness while a cold compress works better for inflammation and swelling. You can also apply ointments to help you ease the pain. These are some of the remedies you can do to ease stiffness.

back pain old woman

Weakness or Numbness 

Weakness or numbness in your body is caused by the joints intertwining, thus disabling the veins to work. Experts say that the best remedy for this is proper exercise. Consult a therapist if you feel severe numbness or weakness in your neck and back since they can suggest some exercises or movements to relieve those pains.

Loss of Mobility of the Limbs 

Whether it’s walking, dancing, or stretching, regular bodily activities can be good ideas to maintain mobility.

Good mobility keeps your muscle, bone, and joints healthy, which naturally lessens with age. Also, maintaining your mobility can help you continue to accomplish the things you enjoy, such as your favorite hobbies.  

It’d be better to seek a professional physical therapist’s help so they can assist you in this matter. 

Balance Issues 

Some individuals may find balance issues scary, and it’ll affect their quality of life. In most cases, it’s possible to treat the balance issues by easing or eliminating signs of dizziness.

It’s typical for balance to reduce as a person ages. Other than that age, a person’s lifestyles and health factors also play a part. Muscle mass declines as they become more inactive which causes balance issue making it difficult for the person to walk.

Another thing is that when a person ages, it’ll be more difficult to recover from injuries, which may trigger the pre-existing balance issues. An individual can usually enhance their balance with house activities and physical therapy.

Consult your doctor first for accurate advice on how to heal your sickness and treat it eventually. Working with a doctor or physical therapist to determine which exercises are safe is the best option, especially if severe dizziness is a frequent issue.

Conclusion: 

Neck and back pain can undoubtedly cause you to have discomfort in your daily life, making it hard to go about your typical day. The most common causes of this pain are all because of human behavior or movement. How we hold ourselves as we move, stand, or sit can be the reason for the discomfort and pain. 

The factors stated above such as stiffness and numbness, balance issues, muscle strains and others are the most common reasons or causes why a person experiences neck and back pain. Considering them will help you determine why you’re having these neck and back pain and knowing what you should will help you alleviate the pain. However, seeking the advice of a professional or medical expert can greatly help since they can offer you the different and best treatment option you need for your neck and back pain.