Conquering Back Pain: A Practical Guide from Assessment to Recovery

Understanding Back Pain

Back pain is not a diagnosis — it is a symptom. The cause determines the treatment. Most back pain (85-90%) is non-specific — no serious structural cause is found, and it resolves with conservative treatment. The remaining 10-15% has a specific identifiable cause like disc prolapse, spinal stenosis, or fracture.

Red Flags — Seek Immediate Help

Common Causes of Back Pain

Muscle Strain

The most common cause. Poor posture, lifting heavy objects incorrectly, or sudden awkward movements cause muscle and ligament strain. Resolves with rest, heat, and simple pain medicines in most cases.

Disc Prolapse

The gel-like centre of an intervertebral disc pushes through the outer ring and presses on nearby nerves. Causes back pain along with leg pain, numbness, or weakness. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment in 6-8 weeks.

Spinal Stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal causes back pain and leg pain that worsens with walking and improves with sitting or bending forward.

Treatment Approach

Step 1: Conservative Treatment

Heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines, and relative rest for 2-3 weeks. Most acute back pain resolves at this stage.

Step 2: Physiotherapy

Core strengthening, posture correction, and specific exercises. This is the most important long-term treatment.

Step 3: Injections

Epidural steroid injections for nerve pain provide relief that allows physiotherapy to progress.

Step 4: Surgery

Reserved for cases with significant nerve compression, failure of conservative treatment, or progressive neurological deficit.