| Back Pain Help | | | | |
| | | | RECURRENCE - When the back pain occurs from |
| Types & Terms | | | | time to time with intervals of no pain in |
| | | | between. |
| To learn more about specific types of back | | | | |
| pain and the back pain treatment you require, | | | | PERSISTENCE - When the pain is always |
| it helps to identify the "type" of back pain | | | | present. |
| present, similar to a doctor visit when | | | | |
| asked, "Is it a stabbing pain or dull ache?" | | | | LOCATION - A printed body diagram is usually |
| | | | used to that the patient can refer to the |
| These are helpful healthcare terms associated | | | | place or location where pain is felt. |
| with back pain: | | | | |
| | | | MOVEMENT - Where the back pain movement is |
| ACUTE - Most people in need of back pain help | | | | located. Most generally it is centrally |
| fall into this category. With acute lower | | | | located in the middle of the spine or an |
| back pain, certain movement ranges for | | | | injury to either side of the spine. Pain that |
| activities may be limited due to pain. But | | | | reaches beyond, for example to legs, is known |
| most people recover within about four weeks | | | | as peripheral. |
| on their own. | | | | |
| | | | Other terms associated with movement are |
| CHRONIC - Also referred to as recurrent lower | | | | twisting, lifting, bending, straightening, |
| back pain or when acute pain episodes recur | | | | arching, vibrating, sneezing, coughing and |
| for more than three months. This is most | | | | posture. |
| generally when medical treatment is sought. | | | | |
| | | | ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS - When discussing back |
| Note one can suffer acute and chronic back | | | | pain and back pain help, other symptoms that |
| pain at the same time. As secondary health | | | | can come up include, but are not limited to, |
| problems be involved. In other words, chronic | | | | itching, burning, tingling, weakness or |
| pain sufferers can be susceptible to acute | | | | numbness, bladder control loss or change in |
| pain. | | | | habit, nausea. |
| | | | |
| ONSET - When the back pain began. Acute onset | | | | INTENSITY LEVEL - A verbal measurement used |
| means it occurred suddenly and you need back | | | | to quantify pain on a scale rating from zero |
| pain treatment immediately. Insidious onset | | | | that signifies "no pain" to 10, referring to |
| means it gradually developed over a period- | | | | your "worst pain ever." |
| could be days or longer. | | | | |
| | | | Other criteria to help with understanding |
| DURATION / FREQUENCY - Some common questions | | | | this pain indicator are does the scale vary; |
| asked with regards to this area are how often | | | | i.e. does the pain intensify and if so with |
| does the worse pain occur and how long does | | | | each occurrence? And within what range on the |
| it last. | | | | scale? |