Sometimes, people feel so debilitated by back pain and immobility that they say, “my back is out.” I hope you’ve never been through that, but if you have, you know how terrifying it is.
When your “back is out,” what’s really going? What causes it? And what are your options for recovering?
What’s going on in your back
When your back is out, you’re experiencing something called “acute kyphosis.” Your vertebrae moved in a way that restricted motion or put enough stress on your tissue to light up pain receptors to a point where they just shut down all motion to avoid further damage. Your back goes out to protect itself.
What might have caused it?
Common causes of acute kyphosis include:
Overuse
Poor posture
Inhibited gluteus muscles
Poor core muscle tone
Osteoporosis (i.e., arthritis) or osteopenia (low bone density)
What are my options for recovery?
When you’re back is out, it’s hard if not impossible to walk, work, drive, take care of your kids, and do all the basics of life. You have some options:
Wait it out.
Try an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol.
Go to the emergency room, where they’ll give you muscle relaxants and/or painkillers.
See a physical therapist, masseuse, acupuncturist, orthopedist, or chiropractor for help.
Any red flags or things to worry about?
Get to an emergency room immediately if you experience numbness, tingling, weakness, changes in sensation, changes in the temperature of your legs, or loss of bowel or urinary control. Those are symptoms of nerve damage.
If you feel gnarly pain when you’re lying on your back and try to raise one leg in the air, you may be suffering from sciatica, which is a different beast.
If you back hurts and you’re not sure what’s going on, get in touch. We’ll do an evaluation. Use the button below to book your appointment.
Dr. Jake Shores
Chiropractic Neurologist
Park City, Utah
