Acute back pain

Symptoms of acute back pain

The symptoms of acute back pain can be pain in the lower back, mid-back or neck. It can be a stabbing pain or more radiating to a wider area of ​​the back. You often experience reduced mobility in the back, stiffness and soreness, where certain movements can worsen the pain. You often end up walking bent over or with a slightly curved back, to try to reduce the pain. 

Causes of acute back pain

The exact cause of acute back pain is not known. But there are several theories that point to it being caused by an imbalance in the muscles, tendons or connective tissue in the back. And these imbalances can arise due to other problems in the body, either from the organ system, the circulation, stress, etc. Where the back then becomes the one that compensates for the other imbalances. 

Duration of acute back pain

Acute back pain usually lasts for a few days, but can last longer in some cases and will usually go away on its own.

Acute back pain in the lower back

Acute back pain can occur in the lower back and can be felt either very centrally in the lower back or more broadly across the back.

Acute back pain and painkillers

The pain from a acute back problem can usually be kept down with painkillers and some exercises. However, if there are problems urinating, it is important to see a doctor, as this may be a sign of nerve damage.

Acute back pain

Acute back pain can also occur in the entire back, where the pain can either be felt very locally or radiate into the arms, chest or legs.

What can be done about acute back pain?

What you can do yourself when you get acute back pain, also called a backache, is to move as much as your back allows. Either go for a walk, do some stretching exercises or do some strength exercises. Because movement is always good for pain. And can be combined with painkillers.

Acute back pain in the neck

It is also common for acute back pain to occur in the neck. It can hurt in a single point in the neck, or radiate to the shoulder and arms.

Treatment of acute back pain

The traditional treatment for acute back pain is to wait for it to go away on its own, and supplement it with painkillers. In some cases, the doctor will refer you to a chiropractor or physiotherapist if it does not go away on its own relatively quickly.

Osteopathy and acute back pain

Since osteopathy focuses on finding the cause of the acute back pain, an osteopathic approach to acute back pain is to look at the whole body. Does the back move as it should and the surrounding joints and tissues, as this also affects the pain in the back. The organs will also be examined, as a tense organ system can cause back pain, as well as looking at digestion, diet, lifestyle habits and stress levels, as this has a major impact on the body.

Good advice for acute back pain

If you have acute back pain, it is important to keep yourself busy as much as you can. And then relax, that is, a good balance between rest and activity, as too much of either is not good.

Either keep walking/cycling or do some strength/stretching exercises for your back.

Exercises for acute back pain

For acute thoracic pain:

• Lying on your stomach, your head looking down at the floor. You raise your upper body up as far as you can in a controlled manner and then lower it back down. Do this 10 times and pause. You do this a total of 3 times.

For acute lower back pain:

• Lying on your back, bend your legs so that they are 90 degrees, and have your feet on the floor. Then lift your pelvis up as far as you can, and lower it back down. Do this 10 times and pause. Do this 3 times in total

For acute neck pain:

• Stand normally with your head down, then bring your chin back to create a “double chin,” and then return to normal position again. Do this 10 times, then pause. Repeat 3 times in total.