How Do I Know If My Back Pain Is Muscle Or Spine?

Our backs are incredibly complicated structures. You depend on your back to move your body around on a daily basis. This constant movement, up to 80% of adults have reported experiencing back pain. These patients experience pain on a spectrum; some people experience mild pains while others experience debilitating back pain. Wherever you lie on this pain spectrum, your priority is to understand the cause of your pain to take steps towards healing yourself by getting the proper treatment.

Diagnosing the cause of this kind of pain is not always a straightforward process, so most therapists focus on pain management instead of looking at and healing the cause of the problem. Most cases involve a disk, while other cases involve a strained muscle. In rare cases, back pain is the pain issues that are not structurally related to the back. So how can you know if your back pain is muscle or spine related? And what kind of treatments should you pursue in each case?

How to Tell If Your Back Pain is Muscle-Related

When you visit a doctor like Dr Timothy Steel for spine pain, your goal is to find a minimally invasive solution. To do this, your doctor will take your complete health history and analyze it. In rare cases, back pain can be caused by underlying conditions that present themselves as spine pain. Some situations that mimic include kidney stones, gallbladder issues, and vascular problems. The good news is severe conditions do not cause most pain cases.

At the doctor’s office, you can expect the following questions

• When did the pain start?
• How long does it last?
• What makes the pain better or worse?

The doctor asks these questions to determine the cause of your back pain. Genuine back pain is often described as a gradual pain that builds up and does not go away. If your pain comes on in sudden bursts, chances are it’s not spine pain, and you should see a doctor about it at your earliest convenience.

Your spine is mainly made up of muscle which explains why most back pain causes are muscle-related. Doctors might refer to this kind of injury as a strain or soft tissue strain. Common symptoms associated with the kind of strain include:

• Muscle spasm
• Muscles that feel tight
• Generally sore back

These symptoms will present themselves when tendons are attached to the bone. Most patients strain their muscles when taking up new projects or a workout regimen. Other everyday activities that lead to strained soft tissue include yard work and jobs that need lifting heavy items. The pain often does not rear its ugly head until the following day when you wake up and realize that you cannot stand up straight. Sometimes, the pain goes away on its own. Other times it sticks around, making the most straightforward tasks a nightmare. You might also notice some degree of tightness and stiffness that accompanies the pain.

Possible Course of Back Pain Treatment

Once your doctor confirms that the cause of your back pain is muscle or spine related, there are a few things you can do to speed up the healing process. Muscle tissue heals better when exercised and gently stretched frequently. Each one of our bodies is as different and unique as the injury, which is why we advise that you only do exercises that you are comfortable with. When it comes to physiotherapy, any doctor will tell you it is easy does it. Pain from a strain and a sprain is hard to distinguish because they trigger the same nerve endings. The good news is, both injuries respond positively to the same back pain treatment. Professional physiotherapy might work better if you are not sure about what you are doing. Seeking help from a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore is a sure way of getting you on the road to recovery.

How to Tell if the pain is Emanating from Your Spine or Disc

The pain can emanate from joints or discs. Joint pain occurs when joint facets are sprained or injured. Common injury may also cause inflammation which can cause pain and discomfort. Pain that radiates from the lower back is most likely spine-related. If you are a fan of lifting heavy items or awkward movement, you are more likely to suffer joint-related pain. Spine or disc-related pain is usually more severe and might require further intervention, such as an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. After medical professionals have made sure that no nerve endings are compromised, you can proceed to see a chiropractor at a physiotherapy clinic in Singapore.

What is the Possible Course of Treatment?

Joint pain and muscle pain are treated using similar treatment regimens. Strengthening exercises may do the trick for you. In some instances, you might be required to get imaging done to determine the extent of your injury. A doctor should inspect your results and let you know the extent of your damage before proceeding with treatment. If you opt for physical exercises at home, remember to take it easy. Start with small movements and build up with time.

can make it hard for patients to complete menial tasks, let alone take care of themselves and their loved ones. It is usual for patients and medical personnel to opt for less invasive treatments. Intrusive treatment like surgery should only be performed as a last resort as it puts the body through more stress. Determining whether the pain is muscle or spine-related is crucial for choosing the perfect treatment for this kind of pain. Physiotherapy is highly likely to help you recover faster. Once you have a treatment regimen planned out, stick to it, and you should see results in good time.