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Acute back pain is defined as a pain
lasting 3-6 months or a pain that’s directly related
to tissue damage.
This type of pain occur when you for
example touch a hot surface to pricking your finger, the pain
generators can be identified in this situation and remedied.
The longer a pain continues the more
the chance of developing chronic back problems. Acute pain
can be treated successfully as the condition is due to a diagnosable
and treatable problem; if no pain generator can be identified
it is usually considered to be chronic back pain.
Long term acute back pain can set up
a pathway in the nervous system that continues to send pain
signals even though any original tissue damage has long disappeared,
this happens when the nervous system itself misfires and creates
the pain this is called Neuropathic pain.
Different people will experience pain
differently and the effectiveness of a particular treatment
depends on the person, not all patients with similar conditions
develop chronic pain and a condition that relatively seems
minor can lead to severe chronic pain.
Acute pain can result from trauma caused
by a sports injury; work done around the house or in the garden.
A sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on the
spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle aches
to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and a range
of motion, or an inability to stand straight.
What
to do when you have an episode of back pain
• Do not rest unless you have to and then do so for
2 to 3 days maximum. Rest is not a treatment for lower back
pain and can lead to stiffness, weakness.
• Normal activities should be
continued but give yourself smaller goals and resting from
time to time.
• Pace your activities - do normal daily activities
but cut them up into small blocks of time so that you can
easily manage.
• Medication should be taken
in fixed doses at fixed times, and not when you feel like
it or when the pain gets too bad. Drugs that are used need
to be discussed with your doctor.
• Recognise negative beliefs
and deal with them. Look upon the episode as a relapse, not
a disaster.
• Spine manipulation can be useful
to provide short-term improvement in pain and abilities.
• Use relaxation techniques like
soothing bath or a massage.
• Do not expect to be completely
pain free before resuming normal activities
• You should have returned to
normal activities and work by six weeks after the start of
your episode. If not you may need to join an exercise programme
under supervision or at the gym to prevent long term problems.
•Use a back support
to provide compression, heat and reduce pain.
Recommended
Products for Acute Lower Back Pain
Vertebrace
Vertebrace spinal supports
are used to support the lumbar vertebrae and the muscles of
the lower back.
It provides
firm, comfortable support to help relieve back pain. Vertebrace
is made from a strong, elastic, woven material with built-in
stiffeners. Vertebrace spinal supports
provide firm, comfortable support for the lower back.
Reinforced
panels in the lumbar region provide additional local support.
 View
the Vertebrace
Knee
Pillow
Relieve your lower back
pain, hip and leg pains by keeping your knees comfortably
apart and ensuring your legs are in natural alignment with
your pelvis when sleeping on your side.
View
the Knee Pillow
Lower
Back Pain Lumbar Roll
The Lower Back Pain Lumbar
Roll offers strong lower back support with the added benefit
of being able to vary its size. Lumbar rolls are a firm favourite
with physiotherapists. The Lower Back Pain Lumbar Roll comes
complete with an adjustable fixing strap.
View
the Lower Back Pain Lumbar Roll
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