Many people who suffer from back pain do not realize that it is time to see a doctor. Oftentimes, people with back pain will live with their discomfort for years without thinking of visiting their doctor to ask for help.
You should visit a doctor if your back pain has not responded well to:
● Simple stretches
● Rest and Ibuprofen
● Heat or ice
● Standard at-home remedies
If you cannot lessen your back pain with any of these remedies, then it is time to visit your primary care physician and begin looking for an explanation and plan of action to relieve your pain.
What could happen if back pain goes untreated?
In most cases, back pain is caused by the frequent misuse of the same muscle or tissue. However, in rare cases, back pain can be traced to a spinal issue, such as spinal arthritis or the breaking down of spinal joints. If one of those rare cases goes untreated, it can cause a ripple effect in the body because the spine is home to a cluster of nerves that aid in movement and sensation. If the issues in these nerves are ignored, the rest of your body could be affected permanently.
Untreated back pain can also result in sleep problems and depression. Getting comfortable at night can be difficult when you have continuous back pain, which can create a domino effect that could lead to depression. The inability to sleep and move without discomfort can slowly wear down the mind and spirit, causing depression-like symptoms to overtake the body. In many cases, the cause of back pain can be solved easily and treated with medication.
What are some possible causes of back pain?
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is when a problem arises in the discs that lie between each of the vertebrae in your spine. Those discs could either slip out of place or tear. A herniated disc is a relatively common condition that can be treated by undergoing a microdiscectomy. A microdiscectomy is a simple surgical procedure that should relieve the pain and is minimally invasive.
Sciatica
Sciatica can be caused if a herniated disc goes untreated. The untreated herniated disc can compact the sciatic nerve, which will then cause pain that will ripple from the lower back all the way to your toes. Normally, sciatica will only affect one side of the body, and it can be treated through medication or physical therapy.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis originates when the space around the backbone is too small, meaning simple wear and tear can cause immense pain. Spinal stenosis can be worsened if back and arthritis issues already exist. Treatment for spinal stenosis usually involves a surgery that will leave more room around the backbone. Spinal stenosis can be chronic if it goes untreated for too long.
Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
Lumbar spondylolisthesis occurs when one of the vertebrae in your spine slips out of place and stacks on top of the vertebrae below it, adding pressure to the spine, which can cause shooting pains in the lower back or leg. Lumbar spondylolisthesis can be treated by taking anti-inflammatory medication or by wearing a back brace, depending on the severity of the case. In rare cases, surgery is needed to fix lumbar spondylolisthesis however, the surgical procedure, a facetectomy, is relatively common and rarely causes issues post-surgery.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that allows for the bones in your spine to join together and become one, which stops the motion between the two. Because two bones that should serve two purposes have joined together to form one bone, their different jobs cannot be done. Ankylosing spondylitis can cause a hunched posture, which will then put extreme pressure on the ribs, making breathing more difficult. Ankylosing spondylitis can be treated with medication, physical therapy, and very rarely surgery.
If you are suffering from chronic back pain, your primary care physician can diagnose the cause and refer you to Axis Spine Clinic if needed.