There are a number of things on back pain Clarksville TN residents should know if struggling with the same. The condition is regarded as the commonest reason for hospital visits and absenteeism from work world over. It has been projected that at least 80% of the general population will experience at least one episode in their life. Severity varies among different persons.

The pain may be either acute or chronic. The acute type is that which has been diagnosed within two weeks of onset while the chronic type has lasted for more than two weeks. Apart from pain, there are a number of other accompanying symptoms. Affected persons frequently have difficulty standing up due to an ache of muscles that is characteristically shooting or stabbing and radiating to the limbs. This ache may limit flexibility of the back.

This symptom is caused by many factors. In general, the main causes are the various spinal column components. Possible sources include the skin, muscles, ligaments, vertebral bones, joints, nerves and blood vessels. Under normal circumstances, it is not easy to distinguish symptoms originating from any of these areas except with the help of specialized instruments. Muscle ache is often the result of spasms and strains. The causes attributable to joint problems account for 30% of cases.

To accurately diagnose the exact problem, your physician will require a comprehensive history and then do a full physical examination. When they have narrowed down on the possible differential diagnoses, they will request for radiological images of affected areas. The X-ray is a commonly requested one. This investigation helps one to pick out bony lesions. For soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and tendons, MRI and CT scan are more helpful.

After the diagnosis has been made, treatment is started conservatively. Cold and hot compressions have been found to provide some relief for the mild cases. This kind of symptoms may be seen with activities that cause straining such as sports, lifting and gardening. A treatment that has a similar benefit is inversion therapy. Electrotherapy is another conservative method that has been shown to be beneficial in some circumstances.

Alternative medicine options may be considered if the available options in mainstream medical practice prove ineffective. Chiropractic has continued to gain in popularity in this area. Acupuncture is another popular option that involves the use of needles to relive symptoms in the affected region. Other useful therapies that can be used include yoga and massage.

Surgery should only be considered as a last resort. It is recommended for persons that are experiencing a progression of symptoms in spite of management with conservative options. Conditions that are likely to benefit include, among others, spinal stenosis, disc herniation and degenerative disc diseases. The area most commonly affected by these conditions is the lumbar spine.

The important thing on management of back pain Clarksville TN residents need to know is that although some cases are self-limiting or resolve with home treatments, there are some that will not resolve until some form of intervention is undertaken. The general rule of the thumb is that if there is no improvement within 72 hours, a consultation is warranted. Bladder and bowel dysfunction in setting of back pain also require urgent review.