Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints in the U. S., affecting approximately 31 million Americans at any given time. It can be difficult to distinguish the cause of the pain, as the human back is made up of several different structures. So how can you tell if your back pain is muscular? If your muscles are tight, they'll feel like a sore or severe pain.
A muscle stretch wouldn't feel heat, tingling, or electricity like an irritated nerve root would. The pain will only go away while you are relaxed and resting, as tension and spasms are relieved. However, the pain will most likely intensify when you get up to move again. Muscle sprain usually occurs due to overexertion, meaning that pain intensifies when walking, standing, or moving.Back strain tends to worsen pain when you perform specific movements because it activates irritated muscles.
Similarly, aortic dissection (the tearing of an inner layer of tissue in the aorta, the main vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body) sometimes causes back pain and can be fatal if not treated right away.You may experience back pain due to the development of bone spurs, which clog the spinal canal and pinch nerves. On the other hand, if you feel the pain radiating to your legs, it may be a problem with your lumbar spine.Many problems can cause back pain, but two of the most common causes are muscle strain and herniated discs. Back pain is also unlikely to cause long-term problems, but you should be careful if the pain continues for more than two weeks and is severe enough to interrupt your daily activities.If you or a loved one could benefit from a back pain consultation, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online. There are many types of back pain and a wide range of treatments that may or may not work for the same condition.
Learn about The Spine Center at UT Southwestern, where the multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and providers offers cutting-edge treatments for back pain and spinal related injuries.Solve the back pain puzzle, one area of the spine at a time. As you may know from personal experience, back pain can be especially complex and difficult to diagnose and treat. With proper diagnosis and treatment, however, it is possible to find relief from back pain.
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