Around 65 million Americans reported a recent episode of back pain, with 16 million reporting persistent pain. It is a common issue that can be linked to numerous causes. If you’ve been suffering from back pain, you’ll want to identify the cause and get treatment as quickly as possible.
An easy way to learn more about your pain is to track how long your symptoms last. This can help you, and your health team provides a diagnosis. Continue reading to learn more about the different types of back pain!
Acute Pain
Acute back pain symptoms typically last no more than a few weeks. You may find that it comes on suddenly and sharply. This can often be attributed to an injury or event such as heavy lifting or falling.
This serves a biological purpose and is activated by the nervous system. As your muscles begin to heal and swelling subsides, the pain should resolve on its own. However, if you find that it is interfering with your everyday life, you may want to look into back pain treatment options.
Subacute Pain
Subacute pain lasts anywhere from six weeks to 3 months. It is recommended that you seek out back pain treatment by going to a chiropractor if you have subacute pain. This will allow them to assess if the pain will resolve independently.
This is an important step for subacute pain because it may have the potential to develop into chronic pain if left untreated. Trauma and injuries might not be able to heal on their own, and the repercussions can be incredibly damaging.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain must last for more than 3 months. This type of back pain may feel intense, or it can be dull and persistent. You may also experience varying degrees of pain depending on what activities you are taking part in.
If you’re experiencing chronic back pain, you should seek treatment with a chiropractor as soon as possible. Keep in mind these qualities to look for when researching a doctor.
When chronic back pain is left untreated, it can be debilitating. Chronic back pain causes can also be difficult to diagnose. If it’s not possible to identify that cause, then pain management may be the best option.
Here are some common causes of chronic pain:
- Arthritis of the spine
- Disc problems (herniated or bulging)
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Spinal stenosis
- Aging
- Lifestyle habits
Understanding Types of Back Pain
For those suffering, getting rid of back pain is their number one priority. From working, relationships, or just doing the things you enjoy, back pain can get in the way.
Take note of your symptoms, how long they last, location, severity, changes, and general feeling. Understanding the types of back pain can help greatly in finding the cause of the issue.
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