Back pain, more commonly known as back pain, is often pain felt in the lower back. The lower back consists of five lumbar vertebrae and twelve spinal vertebrae connecting with the ribs on either side. The back, when suffering from back pain, can be classified as one of four different types:
Physicians usually use imaging techniques to determine which of the four back pain types the patient may suffer from. Imaging studies typically use diagnostic sonography or x-ray technology. Some imaging techniques require surgery such as transvaginal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, tomography angiography, or computed axial tomography. There are no standard treatments for back pain. However, patients suffering from back pain can find relief by taking medication or undergoing physical therapy and performing relaxation or traction therapy. In some cases, physicians may prescribe medications to reduce the inflammation, muscle tone or strength, and sphincter strength while performing therapeutic exercise.
The causes of back pain are multidimensional and vary from one patient to another. Several studies have revealed that a wide variety of nonspecific disorders including musculoskeletal issues, geriatric, neurological, psychiatric, and organic diseases can trigger back pain. The main causes of back pain include degenerative, nonneovascular, and psychosomatic disorders. Medications and medical conditions that produce minimal or no symptoms but are suspected to be responsible for the problem are predominantly degenerative causes. Nonspecific causes of back pain include mechanical, structural, developmental, and infectious processes.