3 Categories Of Back Pain

Nine out of 10 people in Singapore are likely to experience back pain in their lifetime, due mostly to work-related causes1. In fact, nearly 65% of back pain cases are attributed to adults aged 21 to 40, which comprises the bulk of the working age population2. These are alarming statistics considering that good spine health is essential to the body’s optimal performance, allowing us to go about our daily lives with natural ease. But with back pain, carrying on with our normal functions becomes challenging — impeded by symptoms that range from unpleasant to debilitating.
Physical pain is a sensation that manifests when something hurts. It is the body’s way of telling us that there’s something wrong, like an injury or illness. Likewise, it signals that the body is not functioning properly and needs our attention. Essentially, pain is a call for help and should not be ignored. Therefore, if you are experiencing any kind of back pain, it’s necessary to closely monitor the symptoms, the intensity of the pain, and how long the pain lasts. In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of the types of back pain to watch out for, when to seek help, and how chiropractic can address back pain.
1. Acute Pain
Acute back pain feels like a sudden sharp ache anywhere at the rear of the torso but mostly at the lower back, which supports most of our body weight. This type of pain usually goes away in no time, but in some cases it may last for a couple of weeks to a few months.
The level of discomfort can range from mild to severe, with a duration of a few seconds to a couple of months. Mild pain can last about an hour or so while severe pain lasts for weeks up to several months. Beyond 6 months, the pain goes from acute to subacute or even chronic.
Acute pain is a type of pain that is experienced as a specific effect of an identifiable cause. It usually occurs when lifting a heavy object, moving suddenly, or sitting in one position for a prolonged period of time. An injury or accident is also normally accompanied by acute pain. However, it often stems from muscle strain or spasm. To learn more about the common back pain symptoms experienced by Singaporeans, read this article.
2. Subacute Pain
If the ache you are experiencing lasts beyond 6 months, or roughly 25 weeks, then it goes beyond acute back pain and crosses over to subacute back pain. The subacute pain classification is either constant or recurring, ranging from mild to severe. Subacute back pain typically has a gradual onset and persists for weeks to almost a year.
Similar to acute pain, subacute pain mainly results from a pinched nerve or muscle strain, mostly due to overexertion or injury. However, it can also be attributed to underlying conditions, including arthritis and osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and other degenerative disc diseases. Moreover, the pain could be due to trauma to the bones or joints, or a previous injury.
Compared to those experiencing acute back pain, people with subacute back pain recover slower and experience a higher level of discomfort. You may be able to ignore acute pain, function normally, and go about our daily activities, but not so much with subacute pain. Read this article to find out about the common solutions for back pain, without medication or surgery.
The period starting from the onset of acute pain until it progresses to subacute pain is critical. Ideally, we should be seeking professional help from health professionals at this stage, either for treatment or pain management. Doing so would be beneficial in identifying patients who are at higher risk for chronic pain, and providing intervention as early as possible.
3. Chronic Pain
Chronic back pain is characterised by mild to severe ache or soreness that is persistent and recurring for prolonged periods of time — typically 3 months or more. The pain presents anywhere from the neck down to the lower back, either localised or radiating toward the backside and legs.
During this phase, you experience a series of severe pain that come and go (usually called flare-ups), and do not improve with rest. Chronic pain doesn’t just go away, it requires urgent evaluation and treatment. It can be frustrating as it prevents you from performing ordinary physical activities and going about your daily routine. Moreover, chronic pain increases your risk for disability and gravely degrades your quality of life.
Chronic back pain may or may not have an identified cause. However, the more common reasons are trauma, injury, slipped or herniated disc, scoliosis, spondylosis, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis. Other symptoms include deep, dull, or burning pain in the back; throbbing or pins-and-needles sensation travelling down the legs; and persistent ache that over-the-counter pain relievers, rest, or massage are unable to relieve.
Across the board, back pain specialists would suggest going in for a checkup to people who are experiencing chronic back pain. Various imaging tests may be recommended to rule out fracture, infection, cancer, or more serious medical conditions.
The most common of these imaging tests is an x-ray, to check for bone fractures or abnormality. You may be advised to get a CT Scan for a more in-depth examination. Meanwhile, an MRI can detect slipped discs, nerve compression, spinal canal infections, and tumours, among others. To check for nerve damage, on the other hand, a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test or nerve conduction study (NCS) is usually advised.
There are various health professionals who can help resolve and manage your back pain. These specialists differ in how they treat and manage back pain or injury. Read this article to find out which type of back pain specialist you should consult in Singapore.
When to Seek Help for Back Pain
When your back pain is keeping you from living a normal life and preventing you from doing everyday activities, then it’s time to seek help. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, or acetaminophen will only mask the pain, not address it. Likewise, applying hot or cold compress is a temporary way to relieve pain. Moreover, absolute bed rest and totally avoiding movement are not good for an aching back as well — contrary to popular belief.
As a rule of thumb, the more severe and debilitating the pain, the higher the urgency to seek professional help. This is especially true if the pain is accompanied by fever, loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness in the arms and legs. What’s more, if you have previous back trauma or injury that has since healed, as well as risk factors for cancer or infection affecting the spine, then a consultation with a health professional is imperative.
To prepare for your checkup with a back pain specialist, it would help to take note of your symptoms:
Pain Score: With 1 being the lowest, how would you rate your back pain?
Type of pain: Is it stabbing, shooting, throbbing, pins and needles, or burning?
Is your back numb, inflamed, or swollen?
Duration: Since when have you been feeling the pain?
Was it due to injury, strain, or sudden movement?
Location: Is the pain on the upper, middle, or lower back?
Does it radiate to other body parts like legs or buttocks?
Severity: Does the pain go away with rest, or does it persist the whole day?
Have you taken any medication for your pain? Did it help or not?
Mobility: Can you still move and do your daily routines? Are you able to walk or run?
Does standing, sitting, or lying down relieve the pain? Or does it get worse?
Chiropractic Care For Back Pain
Chiropractic is an allied health care profession concerned with the conservative management of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system (joints, muscles, and nerves), including back pain. A chiropractor will identify the root cause of the back pain and recommend a customised treatment programme to correct the underlying issues and help you long-term.
The term “chiropractic” is derived from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning “done by hand.” Chiropractic treatments primarily require the use of the hands known as “adjustments,” commonly referred to and interchangeable with the term “spinal manipulation.” Chiropractors may also use a small instrument to apply controlled pressure to a spinal joint. They also provide patient education, therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, nutritional and lifestyle advice, cold and heat therapy, ergonomic and postural assessment, sleep posture assessment, and foot orthotic therapy.
A chiropractor’s focus is to keep the spine and nervous system healthy and functioning properly. This is achieved by using manual therapy to correct any joint restrictions, thereby promoting the body’s natural ability to heal.
Those who have had adjustments from a chiropractor say that it feels good and tangibly relieves pain. This is due to evidence that spinal manipulation encourages endorphin release, which has an analgesic impact to lessen pain. In fact, according to a survey with more than 45,000 respondents, chiropractic was deemed the more effective alternative health treatment for back pain compared to massage, yoga, pilates, and OTC drugs3. But don’t just take our word for it, read about actual patients’ success stories on conquering pain through chiropractic care on our website.
Kissun Chiropractic is a trusted and leading chiropractic clinic in Singapore offering affordable and effective treatments for all ages in the community. We are experienced in treating routine and complex neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as headaches, neck, shoulder and backaches, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, sciatica, pregnancy aches and pains, sports injuries, performing ergonomic assessments and postural checks. Patients’ conditions are managed through natural, safe, non-invasive, drug and surgery free treatments, relying on the bodies’ inherent recuperative functions. Treatment plans are customised to patients’ specific needs and preferences.
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Source:
- Ministry of Manpower. Overview of back pain cases in Singapore from 2013 – 2015 (2017). https://www.mom.gov.sg/
- Wong SH, Choy KK. A Review of Back Injury Cases Notified to the Ministry of Manpower from 2011 to 2012. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2015 Jul;44(7):244-51
- Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org