Would you like to get back in good health? Actually, let me ask a similar-sounding but different question: Is your back in good health? For all of the aches that have joined me on my journey to old age, back pain thankfully isn’t one. Not yet at least, and I’m hoping to keep it that way.
According to available data, it appears I’ve been one of the lucky ones. It’s estimated four out of every five people suffers from back pain at some point in their lives. And data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates 16 per cent of Aussies were living with back pain in 2022.
So what are some of the things you can do to help prevent back pain? And when should you be concerned that something serious is afoot with your back?
A background on back pain
The good news is that back pain is rarely the sign of a serious medical problem. As with the other parts of our body the back is susceptible to aches and pains associated with minor complaints. In fact more than nine out of 10 cases of back pain are not caused by a serious medical problem.
The federal government’s Health Direct website defines back pain as including pain that affects any area of your spine or the surrounding muscles, nerves and tissues. That takes in a large area that stretches from your neck to your buttocks, providing plenty of targets for pain.
Everything revolves around the spine, of course, which is divided into five regions. These are, from top to bottom: the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, the lumbar spine, the sacrum and the coccyx.
Causes of back pain can include osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, fractures and herniated. There are also pains for which the cause can be harder to pinpoint. These are collectively referred to as non-specific back pain by doctors, who will often not identify the exact cause. As frustrating as that might be to hear from a GP, it usually means the problem is not serious.
Factors that can worsen non-specific back pain are many and varied. They include soft tissue injuries, stress, smoking, lack of exercise, obesity and mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. And, of course, a sudden increase in load on the spine such as lifting heavy objects or children.
When to seek medical advice?
Unless you’ve sustained an obvious injury, Health Direct recommends seeing your GP if back pain isn’t getting better after about six weeks, or if it’s affecting your ability to sleep or perform daily activities.
The Health Direct website also lists a number of situations in which you should seek immediate medical attention. It’s worth familiarising yourself with those, which can be found here.
Preventing back pain
As we all know, prevention is better than cure, so how can we help with that when it comes to our backs? Dr Tyler Wheeler has created a list of 16 things you can do to minimise your chances of experiencing back pain.
Some are more intuitive than others. Getting more exercise and sleep, watching your weight and checking you posture can all help to make a difference. Less intuitive are some of the clothing recommendations Dr Wheeler has provided. His advice to avoid high heels won’t surprise many, but he also counsels against wearing what he calls “skinny jeans”.
Dr Wheeler’s list of 16 is a useful read, even if only some of his recommendations apply to you.
Avoiding pain anywhere is generally a good thing, and by all accounts, back pain is especially good to avoid. For me, it’s been ‘so far, so good’. Now, I will take on board Dr Wheeler’s advice to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Do you suffer from back pain? Have you found a treatment that works for you? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: Is joint pain inevitable, or can we treat it?
Health disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
