What are the 3 categories of back pain?

Three common classifications of back pain include:
  • Axial pain. Also called mechanical pain, axial pain is confined to one spot or region. …
  • Referred pain. Often characterized as dull and achy, referred pain tends to move around and vary in intensity. …
  • Radicular pain.

What is the most common type of back pain?

“By far the most common cause of back pain is non-specific muscular pain, which is basically a muscle strain.” Dr. Ashburn explains. One common symptom to look out for is non-specific, intense muscular pain on one or both sides of the lower back.

What is classified lower back?

The low back, also called the lumbar region, is the area of the back that starts below the ribcage.

What are five causes of back pain?

Causes
  • Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. …
  • Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones in the spine. …
  • Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. …
  • Osteoporosis.

What is a classification of back pain based on duration?

Low back pain may be classified by duration as acute (pain lasting less than 6 weeks), sub-chronic (6 to 12 weeks), or chronic (more than 12 weeks).

What are the names for back pain?

Back pain is pain felt in the back. It may be classified as neck pain (cervical), middle back pain (thoracic), lower back pain (lumbar) or coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain) based on the segment affected. The lumbar area is the most common area affected.

What is low back pain called?

Lower back pain, sometimes called lumbago, is not a specific disease diagnosis. It’s a symptom of several different types of medical problems. It usually results from a problem with one or more parts of the lower back, such as: ligaments and muscles.

How many types of back pain are there?

Back pain is categorized into two types : Acute pain starts suddenly and lasts for up to 6 weeks. Chronic or long-term pain develops over a longer period, lasts for over 3 months, and causes ongoing problems.

How do I know if back pain is muscular or skeletal?

A dull ache when you move

A pulled muscle would not feel hot, tingling, or electric like an irritated nerve root would. The pain would only subside while you are relaxed and resting, as the tension and spasms are alleviated. However, the pain would most likely flare up when you get up to move again.

How do I know if back pain is muscle or disc?

Your spinal disc is at the bottom of your back, so if you have pain in your lower back, you may assume it is a slipped disc. Furthermore, the feeling of pain will differ between the two. Muscle pain will feel like post-workout soreness, while disc pain will feel debilitating and tingly.

How can you tell the difference between nerve pain and muscle pain?

It’s important to note that one of the biggest differences between nerve pain and muscle pain is chronic pain. Chronic pain is ongoing and constant. The damaged tissue that causes nerve pain often leads to chronic pain, leaving many patients to endure long-lasting side effects.

When Is back pain serious?

‘If back pain can be associated with a specific activity, such as lifting or twisting wrong, and the pain goes away within 72 hours after resting and applying ice, it’s usually nothing to worry about. However, if pain creeps on gradually, appears suddenly, or doesn’t go away, you might have a more serious condition.

What is the most common cause of lower back pain?

Arthritis of the spine — the slow degeneration of the spinal joints — is the most frequent cause of lower back pain. All of us experience wear and tear as we age, and it is normal for your lower back to start acting up as you get older.

How do I know if my back pain is spinal?

Other symptoms include:
  1. Stiffness in the low back area, restricting range of motion.
  2. Inability to maintain normal posture due to stiffness and/or pain.
  3. Muscle spasms either with activity or at rest.
  4. Pain that persists for a maximum of 10-14 days.
  5. Notable loss of motor function such as the ability to tiptoe or heel walk.

What cancers cause lower back pain?

A number of cancers can metastasize to the spine, including breast cancer, testicular cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. In fact, approximately 25% of people with lung cancer report back pain as a symptom.

Can Heat make back pain worse?

If you have truly pulled or strained your lower back muscles, applying heat will cause inflammation. Heating inflamed tissues will make your pain worse and certainly won’t help things get better any time soon.

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.

Which medicine is best for lower back pain?

Pain relievers.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might help. Take these medications only as directed.

What does a neurologist do for back pain?

A neurologist specializes in treating nerves in the brain and spine. This doctor also has the tools available to assess back pain like an x-Ray and MRI. However, neurologists can go a step further. Using tools like an EMG, the neurologist can check nerve health and muscle weakness with fantastic detail.