Back Pain

What Causes a Back Injury?

Back injuries can occur for a variety of reasons, including while playing sports, from lifting heavy objects, or because of a car accident. The pain from a back injury is felt in different areas of the back, but it may radiate through the entire back from the base of the neck to the waist. If you have a backache, then you may try to rest for a few days, take over-the-counter pain medication, apply ice packs, or use heating pads to increase blood flow and relax tense muscles. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and muscle relaxants can be especially helpfully for pain relief. You might buy a generic elastic back brace to support your back while it heals.

If you are experiencing persistent back pain then getting checked by one of our healthcare professionals at WellCare Urgent Care would be beneficial to solve this.

What Are the Symptoms Associated with Back Injuries?

Along with discomfort from a back injury, you can have other symptoms that include:

• Inability to walk or stand straight
• Shooting pains in the legs
• Stabbing sensations
• Frequent dull ache
• Inability to bend over
• Spasms in the muscles
• Numbness in the shoulders or arms

When you lift something heavy, you may feel acute back pain right away, or alternatively, the discomfort may occur gradually over several days. You will know that the cause of your backache is due to overextending your back’s ligaments. However, if you injure your back from a trauma such as a blow to the body while playing football or being involved in a motorcycle accident, then you should visit an urgent care center such as WellCare Urgent Care for an evaluation right away.

What Can Contribute to a Back Injury?

A physician can examine your back, collect your health history, and check your X-rays to learn more about the condition of your back to determine if you have these conditions:

• Osteoporosis – a condition that causes loss of bone tissues
• Spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerves
• Spine irregularities – defects of the spine that cause abnormal curvatures
• Arthritis – arthritic conditions that affect the vertebrae
• Strain or sprain – muscle or ligament strain caused by injury
• Fractured vertebrae – fractures from trauma that cause sudden, severe pain
• Disc disorders – injuries to the delicate discs in the back, like a herniated disc

While a back problem may not seem like an emergency, the vertebrae in the back protect the spinal cord that contains nerves that control your body’s movements.

Underlying Causes of a Back Injury

If you aren’t eating a healthy diet, then you may not consume enough calcium and other nutrients to keep the bones in your spine and other nearby areas strong. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important because excess weight can put pressure on the back and spinal discs. Poor posture, such as frequently bending over to look at a computer, and muscle tension caused by stress can also contribute to chronic back pain.

Back Pain Treatments

Oftentimes, at-home remedies and bed rest can relieve back pain within a few weeks. However, if you experience sudden weakness, trouble walking, or severe pain that does not improve, it is important to meet with a healthcare provider who can determine the underlying cause of your pain and help you find the right treatment. Physical therapy may be recommended to strengthen the back muscles and help prevent future injury. In severe cases, back surgery may be needed to repair a damaged disc, vertebrae, or ligament.

Frequently Asked Questions About Back Pain

How do I know if a back injury is serious? Back pain that is severe, doesn't improve after a few days, or is accompanied by numbness, weakness, or trouble walking should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Our team can evaluate your condition to determine the best plan of action. What does a back strain feel like? A back strain often causes localized aching or stiffness, which may worsen with movement. You might also feel muscle spasms in the affected area. What does a pinched nerve in the back feel like? A pinched nerve can cause sharp, shooting pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates down the leg or arm, depending on the location. It may worsen with certain movements or positions. How do I know if it's a slipped disc or pulled muscle? A slipped disc often causes nerve-related symptoms like radiating pain, numbness, or tingling, while a pulled muscle usually leads to localized soreness and stiffness. An exam and imaging may be needed for a clear diagnosis. Can I go to urgent care for a slipped disc? Yes, urgent care can evaluate your symptoms and provide pain relief or a referral for imaging and specialist care. However, if you have sudden weakness or loss of bowel/bladder control, go to the ER immediately.

Come into WellCare

Dealing with back pain leads to a life that can be hard to enjoy. The back pain could be a symptom of a bigger problem in the body. If you are experiencing back pain come into WellCare Urgent Care in Grand Rapids to get checked by a physician and a treatment regimen started. We accept walk-ins at our Cascade and Leonard locations, or you can book a same-day appointment online.