It’s estimated that about 80 percent of the population experiences some type of back pain at one time or another. While some forms of back pain require medical intervention, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons is one of several sources suggesting that most back pain goes away on its own, often requiring non-surgical spine treatments which often include some combination of rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.
Back Pain from Over-Activity
A leading cause of lower back pain is muscle soreness caused by some type of over-activity, such as shoving snow or playing with the kids in the backyard all afternoon. Typically with this type of pain, muscles and attached ligaments have simply been overstretched. Back pain from over-activity is most likely to respond to optional treatments such as a deep-tissue massage or by doing some warm-up exercises before engaging in activities like jogging or playing sports.
Knowing When to Seek Medical Intervention
Back pain is different for everyone. The key to dealing with any type of back pain, usually felt in the lower back region, is to know when it’s time to make a doctor’s appointment. Some sources of back pain will most likely not go away without some type of medical intervention, including:
- Disk injuries (including torn and misaligned disks)
- Disk degeneration (worn disks with age)
- Spinal stenosis (pressure on the spinal cord and nerves)
- As a symptom of another condition (including some forms of cancer)
These sources of back pain can be treated with a variety of surgical procedures including, but not limited to disc decompression, fusion surgery and/or lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery.
Meeting with a Spinal Specialist
The human body has an impressive power to self-heal, especially when it comes to mild forms of back pain, usually requiring some rest and relaxation to facilitate healing by allowing sore muscles to recover or damaged ligaments to heal. While most back pain will disappear naturally, any type of back pain that does not go away on its own within a few weeks should be treated by a doctor.
The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration is located in Santa Monica, CA and has a team of experienced and highly qualified spine specialists and surgeons who can help you look into your conservative and surgical options for reducing or eliminating your spine pain. For more information about our Santa Monica spine surgeons or to request an in-person consultation, call (310) 828-7757.