My chronic back pain

I have been battling a serious back pain for the past two months. Kindly advise me on what to do next.

Nelson (by SMS)

Globally, 7.5% of people suffer from back pain. Beyond individual suffering, the costs to society are substantial. From a cost perspective, it is believed that back ailments surpass diabetes mellitus, strokes, and depression. The WHO characterises chronic pain as having multiple causes.

This encompasses both physical aspects, like functional impairment or failure, and psychosocial aspects. It has also been confirmed that prolonged sitting which puts strain on our bodies, leading to muscle dysfunction is a leading cause of backache. Unlike in our more active evolutionary past, sitting fails to adequately train our muscles, resulting in a higher incidence of back pain.

The substantial prevalence of back pain is linked to our predominantly sedentary lifestyle.  Two crucial considerations should guide the management: Acute pain must be resolved swiftly to prevent it from becoming chronic and the exact source of the pain must be investigated.

This is why it is important for you to be carefully examined to determine whether the origin is muscular, involves facet joints, or stems from a nerve root. You can also check your bed to make sure that it has a firm base and mattress. Life-changing habits involve regular exercises and a non-sedentary life style will also be very helpful.

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