Doctor, I feel back pain every time I turn around. Whats going on?
Doctor, I find it difficult to stand up after sitting for a long time. Is there a problem with my waist?
Whether its an occupational disease or an age-related condition, back pain has gradually become a common ailment among the general public. Long-term desk work and computer-based office tasks have led to an increasing number of young people experiencing various symptoms of back pain. Back pain not only affects work efficiency but can also significantly impact the quality of life, which requires adequate attention.
Deputy Chief Physician Li Changyu from the Neurospinal Outpatient Department of Hainan Cancer Hospital stated that back pain not only affects work efficiency but can also significantly impact the quality of life, which requires sufficient attention. Understanding the characteristics of the pain location, potential causes, and key points of daily health care is crucial for the prevention and alleviation of back pain.
The Location and Potential Causes of Back Pain
Back pain, although seemingly a simple symptom, may have a complex and diverse range of underlying causes. According to statistics, the vast majority of adults will experience the trouble of back pain at some point in their lives. The location of the back pain often provides us with preliminary clues about the cause.
Left or right-sided back pain: may indicate kidney issues, such as kidney stones or nephritis, and it is necessary to be vigilant about checking kidney health.
Right-sided back pain: In addition to kidney issues, it may also be related to digestive system diseases such as gallstones and cholecystitis.
Lower back pain: Commonly associated with strain or injury to the back muscles, ligaments, and lumbar vertebrae, closely related to maintaining poor posture for extended periods and heavy physical labor.
Radiating pain from the waist to the lower limbs: This is often a sign of nerve involvement, such as lumbar disc herniation compressing the nerve roots, which requires high attention.
Health check-up items to pay attention to
Faced with persistent back pain, timely physical examinations are key to identifying the cause and formulating a treatment plan. Here are some examination items that should be given special attention during a health check-up.
1. Physical Examination
Visual inspection of the back and posture: Observe the shape of the spine to determine if there are any abnormalities such as scoliosis or kyphosis.
Spinal palpation/percussion: Assess the tenderness of the vertebrae and surrounding soft tissues to preliminarily determine the site of injury.
Neurological examination and muscle strength testing: Conduct more in-depth examinations based on specific symptoms to clarify the diagnosis.
2. Laboratory Tests
While not all patients with back pain need to undergo these tests, understanding liver and kidney function, rheumatic indices, etc., can help rule out back pain caused by internal organ and rheumatic diseases.
When infection or malignant tumors are suspected, tests such as the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are particularly important.
3. Imaging Examinations
X-ray examination: To preliminarily observe the bony structure of the lumbar spine and rule out fractures, osteophyte formation, and other abnormalities.
CT examination: To provide clearer images of the lumbar spine anatomy, which is helpful in detecting issues such as lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis.
MRI examination: With high resolution for soft tissues, it is the preferred method for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation, nerve root compression, and other such conditions.
Back pain may mask a variety of underlying causes. For those suffering from chronic back pain, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly to understand the cause through examination and take appropriate treatment measures. At the same time, attention should also be paid to daily health care to prevent the occurrence of back pain at its source.
Daily Health Care Precautions:
Maintain proper posture: Whether sitting or standing, maintain the natural curvature of the spine and avoid staying in the same position for extended periods.
Moderate exercise: Strengthen the muscles of the waist and enhance the stability of the lumbar spine through exercises such as swimming and yoga, which are low-impact activities.
Control weight: Excess weight can increase the burden on the waist, leading to worsening back pain. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for preventing back pain.
Avoid overexertion: Arrange work and rest time reasonably to avoid engaging in heavy physical labor or intense exercise for extended periods.
Keep warm: Cold stimulation can cause muscle tension in the waist and poor blood circulation, thereby exacerbating back pain. Therefore, it is important to keep the waist warm.
The article is solely for the purpose of health science popularization.
It does not constitute a basis for clinical diagnosis or medical treatment.
If any text or images involve infringement or violation of regulations,
please inform us promptly for removal.
Editor | Huang Fei