Back pain is a widespread concern that affects 80% of individuals at some point in their lives, with its prevalence notably higher in women and older adults. Discover how to manage it with tips on posture, mattress selection, and exercises, and when it's crucial to seek medical attention.
Back pain: How common is it?
Around 80% of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. It affects more women than men, and the likelihood of having it increases with age. In Spain, back pain has been found to affect approximately 15-20% of the population, and studies show that approximately two-thirds of adults suffer from back pain at some point.
What types of back pain are there?
Back pain can occur in different parts of the spine, and depending on its location the pain is referred to as cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacroiliac, sacral, or tailbone pain.
Back pain may be acute (when the onset is recent), subacute if it lasts for 6 weeks-3 months, or chronic, if it lasts over a long time. There may also be recurrent or relapse pain if it reappears after several months.
Back pain can be mechanical (improves with rest, worsens with activity) or inflammatory (worsens with rest, improves when warming up, moving). Nerve damage can lead to neuropathic pain such as sciatica (leg pain) or brachialgia (arm pain).
Symptoms also vary according to the origin of the pain: discogenic pain (worsens when coughing, sneezing, straining), facet joint pain (worsens when flexing the spine), pain due to vertebral crushing (feels like a weight is pressing on your back), etc. Patients whose pain is due to osteoarthritis often notice that their symptoms worsen in cold weather.
Why your back may hurt when you get up in the morning
This can be due to a mattress that is too soft, sleeping on your stomach, sleeping on your side without bending your legs, sleeping on your side without a pillow between your legs, using poor posture during the day, etc.
What should you do to relieve the pain?
Recommendations for alleviating this pain include using a firm mattress, sleeping on your back or on your side (in this case, with your legs bent or with a pillow betweenthem), and using good posture throughout the day. It may be advisable to take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen at night, or another type of painkiller like paracetamol. Using a heating pad or taking a hot shower can also help. Getting regular, gentle exercise is also important.
Diseases like fibromyalgia have been shown to be related to morning back pain. What other are some of the other causes?
Having back pain when you get up in the morning can be caused by various spinal issues, including spinal crushing, disc herniation, canal stenosis or typically inflammatory diseases of the spine (spondylitis).
What exercises are good for the back?
Any exercise that relieves the pain rather than increasing it, is good. Depending on the patient, Pilates is often recommended, or sometimes, yoga or swimming. Other options would be walking, cycling, gym exercises, etc.
When do you need to see a specialist for your morning back pain?
If the pain is uncontrollable, or is accompanied by fever, weight loss, loss of strength, or progressive neurological symptoms such as loss of feeling, or if it reduces your quality of life in general, it is essential that you see a specialist!
Pablo Barbero Aznárez, Neurosurgeon, Instituto Clavel Madrid.
Categories: Back pain