If you are a young adult or a working person, then the title of this article would hit you right in the feels because it sounds so relatable to you, doesn’t it?
Do you have a habit or a job routine that needs you to sit focused all day long, which eventually leads to you getting a terrible backache at the end of the day?
Or, have you been generally experiencing backache that interferes with your daily performance every day?
Don’t worry – we have got you covered. Read till the very end, and you will thank us for writing this exclusively for you!
Plus, you will be surprised to hear that backache is the most common of all pains experienced by people of your age, that is, in young adults.
What Is Backache?
The human back is divided into three main regions: the cervical or ‘upper’ back region, the thoracic or ‘middle’ back region, and the lumbar or the ‘lower’ back region. The most common type of backache occurs in the ‘lower’ or lumbar back region.
Usually, older adults face back pain related issues, but nowadays, young people are also getting prone to developing a backache at any point in their lives.
Most of the time, a backache is temporary and goes away on its own, but you need to take it seriously and visit your doctor if you observe that the pain persists for a longer period and progressively gets worse.
What Are the Symptoms of Backache?
The symptoms usually involve the entire back region, and sometimes even radiate to your hands and legs. The most common symptoms that you are likely to experience include:
- Persistent pain in the back that does not get relieved when you lie down or rest,
- Feeling of inflammation or swelling in the back region,
- Numbness in the lower back,
- Difficulty in passing urine or feces,
- Numbness around the genitals or buttocks.
Persistent pain in the lower back is the most common symptom of backache. Source: Freepik.com
These symptoms usually relieve when the inciting trigger is taken care of – but in case the pain does not go away even after you have taken painkillers, or it starts to aggravate and is accompanied by fever or a feeling of numbness anywhere in your body, you should immediately consult your healthcare provider.
Why Does A Backache Occur in The First Place and How to Prevent It?
There are several causes that can contribute to a backache. But keeping your age group in mind, we have shortlisted a few common ones, which are as follows:
1. Muscle Strain:
This is undoubtedly the most common type of back-related pain. In most cases, people don’t care about our sitting postures. They are prone to sit in the most comfortable and relaxed way, disregarding how the particular posture will impact your spine and back muscles. Consequently, this causes the muscles to get strained or stiffened over time, which eventually ends up causing severe backache that does not ease even with a proper posture. This type of backache may sometimes cause painful muscle spasms.
How to Prevent It?
This type of backache could be prevented by relaxing your back and giving it adequate rest after short intervals. If you have a job requiring you to sit down for prolonged hours, you should try to get a break after every half an hour and walk around so that your back muscles do not get stiffened.
2. Ruptured or Herniated Disc:
Sometimes, persistent back pain could be due to the herniation or protrusion of your intervertebral disc. The protruded disc pushes on a nerve that results in severe back pain. This type of pain can also limit your ability to do work.
How to Prevent It?
This type of nerve-related pain can only be treated best by a doctor who knows how to treat it. This pain usually does not resolve by medications, and proper treatment is required.
3. Arthritis:
Even though arthritis usually affects the elderly, it can also affect the younger age groups. Arthritis adversely impacts the normal daily life activities of a person and stops them from moving around freely. It is usually related to the wear and tear of the cartilage and results in extreme levels of pain.
How to Prevent It?
Arthritis could be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, arthritis is a life-long condition, and it does not resolve once it has been diagnosed. So, prevention is always better than cure in this situation.
Backache, in itself, is not a disease, but it is a condition that is capable of altering your daily life and everyday routine. Backache can be prevented and treated if the person suffering from it does not ignore it in the initial stages of the diseases and symptoms. With a healthy and balanced diet, a proper routine, and an active lifestyle, you can lead a very happy and pain-free life.
Bonus video: 5 Common Causes of Back Pain
FAQs
Is it normal to have back pain in your 20s?
In our 20s and 30s, “normal” back pain often can be attributed to factors of daily life, such as sitting too long, picking up children, or overdoing it while exercising. In our 40s and older, work injuries and the beginnings of arthritis and degenerative conditions are more common.
What is the most common underlying cause of low back pain?
Most commonly, mechanical issues and soft-tissue injuries are the cause of low back pain. These injuries can include damage to the intervertebral discs, compression of nerve roots, and improper movement of the spinal joints. The single most common cause of lower back pain is a torn or pulled muscle and/or ligament.
What causes spondylosis in young adults?
Spondylolysis is a fracture (crack or break) in a vertebra (bone in the spine). It can happen from repetitive stress or injuries to the spine. Some kids are born with spondylolysis. Spondylolysis is a very common cause of lower back pain in kids, teens, and young adults.
What are 3 common ways people develop back problems?
Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
- Muscle or ligament strain
- Bulging or ruptured disks
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
How does a slipped disc feel?
If you have a herniated lumbar disc, you may feel the pain that radiates from your low back area, down one or both legs, and sometimes into your feet (called sciatica). You may feel pain like an electric shock that is severe whether you stand, walk, or sit.
How should I sleep to relieve lower back pain?
Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees. For some people, sleeping on their back may be the best position to relieve back pain: Lay flat on your back. Place a pillow underneath your knees and keep your spine neutral. The pillow is important — it works to keep that curve in your lower back.
Why is back pain at night a red flag?
Nocturnal back pain is also a symptom of spinal bone infection (osteomyelitis) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a condition that can cause the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position. Other “red flags” include Back pain that spreads down one or both legs. Weakness, numbness, or tingling in legs.
What causes sudden lower back pain?
Acute low back pain is most often caused by a sudden injury to the muscles and ligaments supporting the back. The pain may be caused by muscle spasms or a strain or tear in the muscles and ligaments. Causes of sudden low back pain include Compression fractures to the spine from osteoporosis.
What is the fastest way to relieve back pain?
Use heat and cold. Studies show that heat and cold are effective ways to get relief from back pain. Ice packs are most beneficial when a person uses them directly after an injury, such as a strain. Applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel directly to the back can reduce inflammation.
References:
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- Paolucci, T., Attanasi, C., Cecchini, W., Marazzi, A., Capobianco, S. V., & Santilli, V. (2018). Chronic low back pain and postural rehabilitation exercise: a literature review. Journal of pain research, 12, 95–107. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S171729
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