Nearly 60% of the people in India have suffered from low back pain at some time during their lifespan. The sufferers of back pain are not just adults, but small kids too! Due to the heavyweight of school bags and improper posture, children too face the problem of back pain.

I’ve been working as an orthopedic doctor in Vadodara and served some of the best hospitals in Vadodara. Currently, I work at Janvi Multispeciality Hospital and frequently come across cases of low back pain. That’s the reason I want to throw some light on this problem.

At our orthopedic hospital in Vadodara, every alternate day we have patients with lower back pain. Some patients are young, some are old while some of them are students studying in the school. So we can say that it affects people from all age groups.

Here are a few things that you must know about ‘low back pain’ – tips from the best orthopedic doctor in Vadodara.

What Causes Low Back Pain?

When you visit some of the best orthopedic hospitals in Vadodara for back pain, the first thing they try to do is to analyze where the pain is caused, in which positions it hurts the most. It is only after knowing about these details, the best orthopedic doctors can guide you.

Mostly the problems are caused due to sudden jerky movements or improper lifting of heavy objects. In that case, the problem gets resolved in a couple of days. But there can be other causes for low back pain too which only the best orthopedic doctor can analyze.

Some of the causes for low back pain are

Congenital Factors

It means that they are genetically inherited from their parents.

Skeletal irregularities
Spina bifida

Injuries

Injuries can also result in low back pain.

Sprains
Strains
Traumatic injury due to accidents or sports

Degenerative Problems

One of my colleagues has written about degenerative diseases earlier. For simplicity just remember that such diseases cannot be cured. Medicines are given only to stop the further spread and to relieve the pain.

Intervertebral disc degeneration
Spondylosis
Arthritis
Inflammatory diseases

Nerve and Spinal Cord Problems

Spinal or nerve problems can also lead to low back problems. A pinched nerve or gap in between two vertebrates can also cause problems.

Spinal nerve compression,
Spinal nerve inflammation or injury
Sciatica
Spinal stenosis
Spondylosis
Herniated or ruptured discs
Infections of the vertebrae
Osteoporosis

What Are The Symptoms of Low Back Pain?

Some people feel the pain when they bend while others feel the pain when they try to lie down. Also, there is no particular way in which you feel the pain. Sometimes it is sharp, other times it is dull. However, the following symptoms are associated with low back pain.

Stiffness

If you feel stiffness while getting up from a seated position and feel like walking a bit before your body is back in motion again then it is a symptom of low back pain.

Difficulty in maintaining a correct posture

If your posture is crooked or you are unable to stand straight then that can be possibly due to back pain.

Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms or strains can cause extreme pain in making movements.

You Might Be Wondering, How Do The Orthopedic Doctors in Vadodara Detect The Problems of Low Back Pain?

Well, just by asking the person to walk in front of us, we get an idea of whether he has issues with the back. However, to be doubly sure, we order some diagnostic tests that confirm the root cause of low back pain.

What Are The Diagnostic Tests Conducted to Judge The Problem of Low Back Pain?

X-ray
MRI
CT Scan
Blood tests
Discography
Evoked potential studies
Nerve conduction studies
Myelograms
Electromyography

At times, many patients ask me the difference between a CT scan and MRI. Both produce images of your body; the only difference is in the approach. A CT scan uses an X-ray whereas MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves. MRIs give a more detailed view.

Having said that, here are some of the risk factors that indicate which class of people are more prone to low back pain.

What Are The Risk Factors for Developing Low Back Pain?

The following factors increase the chances of back pain.

Age

Our vertebrae need a cushion. With age, our vertebral discs lose flexibility and decrease the cushion among them. Typically people aged 30 to 50 are more prone to this problem.

Low fitness levels

People who are not physically active may face the problems of lower back pain if they suddenly try to become active one day. Staying fit daily is essential.

Weight gain

Work-related

Activities that involve pulling or pushing or any other kinds of strenuous exercises can lead to low back pain.

Psychological factors

Stress, depression, anxiety can also cause back pain.

Smoking

Smoking restricts the flow of blood to the discs and increases the problem of back pain.

Some medications and treatments can help to relieve you from back pain.

What Kinds of Treatments Are Available for Back Pain?

Pain killers and other physiotherapy treatments can heal low back pain. Gentle stretching exercises and applying hot and cold packs can give relief from pain.

For more advanced treatment patients are advised behavioural therapy, injections, and traction. Surgery is generally treated as the last option to treat extreme cases.

When should you see an orthopedic doctor in Vadodara?

Usually, low back pain gets better with time but in the following cases, you should visit an orthopedic hospital in Vadodara.

Persistent pain for more than a week.
Tingling, numbness in legs.
Muscle spasms that affect your normal activity.
Fever, weight loss and bladder control problems.

Final Words

Usually, back pain is not serious. But as said earlier, if you observe symptoms that are serious or do not get better with time then you should visit an orthopedic hospital in Vadodara. For any kind of assistance, you can get in touch with me. I’ll be glad to help.

About Dr Shwet Shah:
Dr Shwet Shah is the best orthopedic doctor in Vadodara, he is a consultant trauma surgeon at Janvi Multispeciality Hospital. He has completed his M.B.B.S. from Govt. Medical College, New Civil Hospital, Surat and D.Ortho from Shri B.M. Patel Medical College, Karnataka.

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