Spine pain comes in a variety of different forms. Your pain can be dull, intense, ebb and flow, be consistent or somewhere in between. In today’s blog, we’re going to try to explain what a number of these pain sensations may be trying to tell you about your spine. However, your best bet at an individualized diagnosis will come from a physician who can view your injuries first-hand. If you have questions about your back pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and his team.
Back Injuries By Pain Type
Here’s a look at the type of spinal condition you may be dealing with given your pain symptoms.
- Dull, Aching Back Pain – A dull, aching type of back pain is one of the most common types of back pain we hear about in our office. Oftentimes, this type of pain is caused by overuse or overstress. Your condition can range from fatigued or strained muscles, or it can be caused by inflammation as a result of overuse. In many instances, this dull pain fades away with short-term rest, a healthy diet, plenty of water, anti-inflammatory medications and some targeted strength training exercises.
- Sharp, Intense Back Pain – The converse of the above type of pain, sharp or intense back pain tends to be caused by a more serious issue. An obvious cause would be from acute injury, like if you were tackled in football or involved in a car accident, but severe back pain can also develop for more innocuous reasons. Degenerative disc disease or herniated discs that compress key spinal nerves can lead to sharp back pain. Fractures, oftentimes the result of trauma to the area, can also cause sharp or intense back pain.
- Radiating Back Pain – If your back pain tends to radiate or shoot down your arms or legs, especially when you’re moving around, it’s oftentimes being caused by an impinged nerve. Shifted spinal discs or spinal inflammation can compress spinal nerves and cause them to fire off pain signals. Stretching, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications work wonders for spinal nerve compression, as can a minimally invasive decompression procedure.
- Back Pain That Comes And Goes – Back pain that comes and goes throughout the day is a little trickier, because you may not realize how certain activities are stressing your spine. This type of pain is more common in older adults that are suffering from natural spinal degeneration, as spinal structures can shift in excess and cause pain. Your pain could also be caused by a nerve that is compressed and decompressed based on certain movements. For this type of pain, a consultation with a specialist is best to truly understand the root issue.
- Morning/Evening Spine Pain – You can learn more about some of the common causes of morning spine pain in this blog, but there’s a decent chance your discomfort is being caused by inflammation or the presence of spinal bone spurs. On the flip side, evening back pain is more likely to be the result of overuse and overstress throughout the day. This can result in muscle fatigue and strain, and it responds well to the treatments listed in the first point.
If you’re experiencing any of the types of back pain listed above, try the treatments listed or set up an appointment with a spine specialist to get a personalized treatment plan.
