By Curtis Thill, M.D.

Ask around Orange, Lawrence, or Crawford County and you’ll have a hard time finding an adult who hasn’t thrown their back out at least once. Whether from lifting a feed sack, hoisting a grandchild, or simply bending over to pick up a dropped phone, back problems can come out of seemingly nowhere.

How common is it? Back pain is one of the top three reasons people call a doctor’s office, right alongside colds and the flu. Unlike a cold, back pain has a way of parking itself in the middle of your life until you can’t work, sleep, or sit through church without shifting uncomfortably in the pew.

Presently suffering from back pain? Here’s some good news. Most back pain is not a sign that something is seriously wrong. Here’s even better news: there’s a lot you can do about it.

Where back pain usually comes from

Here are a few facts to consider. The vast majority of back pain is what providers call “nonspecific,” meaning there’s no single dramatic injury behind it. Chronic pain usually traces to one of a few everyday sources:

• Muscle and ligament strain. Lifting in a wrong manner, twisting suddenly, or overdoing a weekend project. This is the most common culprit by far.
• Disc problems. The cushions between your vertebrae can bulge (or herniate) and press painfully on a nerve. That’s often the pain that seems to shoot down a leg.
• Wear and tear. Arthritis and the ordinary narrowing of spinal spaces that sometimes comes as people get older.
• How you spend your days. Long hours behind a steering wheel, on a factory floor, at a desk, or on your feet all shift. A weakness in core muscles and extra weight both raise the load your spine carries, creating a possible situation of resulting pain.

Typical symptoms are a dull ache or stiffness across the lower back, muscles that feel locked up, or pain that worsens with certain movements. Sometimes pain can seem to radiate into the buttock or down a thigh, accompanied by numbness.

When to call us

Most episodes of back pain improve on their own within a few weeks. But some symptoms are signals to be seen promptly. If these describe what you’re experiencing, don’t wait these out:

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both legs
• Any loss of bladder or bowel control
• Back pain following a fall, a crash, or another significant injury
• Fever, chills, or unexplained weight loss along with the pain
• Pain that wakes you from sleep or won’t ease when you lie down
• A history of cancer or osteoporosis
• Pain that isn’t improving after four to six weeks

Also call if the pain is simply keeping you from working or living your life. You don’t have to earn your way into an appointment through suffering.

Why timely examination is important

If the condition causing pain turns chronic, it is important to know that stress, poor sleep, and low mood can make it worse. So don’t wait if you’re in one of the above categories.

Preventing the next episode

Build core and hip strength through regular walking, swimming, and simple daily stretching. These all count. Also, don’t forget these tips: lift with your legs, keep the load close when carrying, and ask for help with the heavy stuff. Break up long stretches of sitting every 30 to 60 minutes. Work toward a healthy weight, sleep on a supportive mattress, and if you smoke, quit; tobacco reduces blood flow to the spine and slows healing.

Your back is worth taking care of. If yours is telling you something, talk with your medical provider. You can also call the SICHC office nearest you—we have six locations in Crawford, Lawrence, and Orange counties, and a nurse is on call after hours.

---

Board-certified in family medicine, Dr. Curtis Thill has been serving families in southern Indiana for more than 30 years.