1. What Causes Back Pain?
Back pain can arise from many conditions, such as overuse injuries, sports injuries, improper posture, age-related degeneration, accidents, infections, or cancer that has spread to the spine. The pain may originate from different spinal structures such as the facet joints, intervertebral discs, muscles, or ligaments.
In addition, certain conditions outside the spine—such as abdominal aortic aneurysm, pancreatitis, or kidney infection—can also cause back pain.
2. What Factors Contribute to Back Pain?
One of the most common causes is improper posture or physical activity that exceeds the strength and stability of the spine and supporting muscles. Repeated strain leads to chronic injury. Age-related degeneration, abnormal spinal alignment (such as kyphosis or scoliosis), and structural deformities can also contribute to long-term back pain.
3. Can Back Pain Occur in Children or Teenagers?
Back pain is less common in children compared to working-age adults. When it does occur, the usual causes include sports injuries or accidents. However, if a child or teenager experiences persistent pain that does not improve with rest or over-the-counter medication, they should be evaluated by a doctor. In children, serious causes may include spinal injury, infection, or certain types of spinal tumors.
4. How Is Back Pain Diagnosed?
Back pain evaluation generally involves four steps:
- Medical history The doctor will ask about the location of pain, severity, characteristics, factors that worsen or relieve symptoms, underlying medical conditions, associated symptoms, and previous treatments.
- Physical examination This includes spinal assessment and neurological examination to identify the source of pain.
- Imaging studies X-ray, CT scan, or MRI may be used to evaluate spinal structures.
- Diagnostic injections (if needed) For certain patients with unclear pain locations, referral to a pain specialist for diagnostic nerve or joint injections may help identify the exact pain generator.
5. What Are the Treatment Options for Back Pain?
Treatment is divided into 3 main methods: non-surgical or conservative treatment, which includes oral medication or topical treatments to reduce pain, physical therapy, using back support, as well as exercise to help strengthen back muscles, along with modifying the work environment. The next method is pain management procedures, such as injecting anti-inflammatory medication or steroids directly into areas with chronic inflammation or around compressed, inflamed nerves. Additionally, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be used on the nerves that supply inflamed joints to reduce pain. The final method is surgery to relieve nerve compression, which may be performed together with spinal fusion and metal implants in cases where pain does not respond to initial treatment.
6. When Is Surgery Necessary?
Surgery may be recommended when pain continues or worsens despite adequate conservative treatment, or when it begins to interfere with daily activities. It is also indicated when neurological symptoms appear, such as pain radiating down the leg, numbness, muscle weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder control.
7. What Types of Spine Surgery Are Available?
Spine surgery generally aims to achieve three outcomes: relieving pressure on compressed nerves, stabilizing spinal segments that are unstable, and correcting severe deformities such as kyphosis or scoliosis. Procedures may be performed through traditional open surgery or through minimally invasive techniques, including microscope-assisted surgery, tubular endoscopic spine surgery, or percutaneous screw fixation. The choice of surgical technique, incision size, and the level of the spine to be operated on depends on factors such as the location and severity of compression, the number of spinal segments involved, and the degree of instability. The surgeon and patient will decide together on the most appropriate approach.
8. How Long Is the Hospital Stay After Surgery?
The hospital stay after spine surgery usually ranges from two to seven days. The exact length of stay depends on the underlying condition, the type of surgery performed, the presence of any postoperative complications, and the patient’s individual recovery rate.
9.How Can Back Pain Be Prevented?
Back pain can be prevented by learning proper exercise techniques—especially those that strengthen the back muscles—and practicing them regularly. It is also important to avoid activities that put excessive strain on the spine, such as heavy lifting. Smoking should be avoided, as it is known to accelerate disc degeneration.
10. What Types of Back Pain Are Dangerous?
Certain symptoms accompanying back pain may indicate a more serious underlying condition and should prompt immediate medical evaluation. These include radiating leg pain, numbness, or muscle weakness; numbness around the anus; loss of bowel or bladder control or urinary leakage when coughing or sneezing; severe pain that does not improve with rest, medication, or physical therapy; pain that is strong enough to wake a person from sleep; back pain that does not lessen even when lying still; unexplained weight loss or fever; a history of using immunosuppressant or long-term steroids; and worsening spinal deformity such as increasing kyphosis or scoliosis. These signs may suggest conditions such as infection, tumor, or significant spinal injury.
