Back Pain

Everyone experiences back pain at some point in their life. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term spread over several months).

There are numerous sources of pain in the back. ​Your backbone is composed of bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Disturbance or pressure in any of these local structures can result in what is known as axial or mechanical back pain.

When a nerve is bothered as it makes its way out of the spine, like we see in sciatica for example, it may cause radicular back pain

If the pain is transmitted from disorders unrelated to the back (such as that seen in pancreatitis, perforated peptic ulcer, kidney infection, ectopic pregnancy or herpes zoster) it is labelled as referred back pain.

At times, a psychiatric illness can also present as back pain.

However, the most common type is mechanical pain which is prevalent in most members of the population. Prolonged poor posture while sitting or sleeping, muscle strain, spondylosis, compression fracture, spinal stenosis and pregnancy are often the underlying cause. 

Many other diseases affecting the skeletal system can involve the backbone too; for example osteoporosis, osteomalacia, Paget's disease of bone, rheumatoid arthritis or osteomyelitis. Although tuberculosis is primarily a lung disease, it can spread to the spine, as can certain cancers that disperse to various parts of the body. Furthermore, an injury to the back may lead to any of the above types of pain.

When to seek expert advise

In the majority of cases, backaches improve after rest. But if the pain is intense and constant that you are bed-bound for more than two days, it is always best to come and meet the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine or Department of Orthopaedic​s at The Aga Khan University Hospital. Additionally, be sure to get an appointment with a doctor if your back pain:

• spreads down your leg(s).
  

• Is enhanced at night.
  

• Is accompanied by redness or swelling on the back.
  

• occurs with unintended weight loss.
  

Some high risk scenarios call for urgent medical attention. Do not hesitate to contact the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Aga Khan University Hospital when your back pain is prominent:

• after a sports injury or car crash.
  

• following a recent fall.
  

• gives rise to weakness, numbness or tingling in legs.
  

• is accompanied with a fever.
  

• is accompanied by loss of bowel or bladder control.
  

• leads to loss of feeling in the ‘saddle’ region (inner thighs, back of legs and area around rectum).​​