How do back pains differ?
There are three types of back pain: acute, chronic, and neuropathic.
It can help you to manage pain better by understanding how it is defined. Pain is usually divided into three types for medical research and practice.
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Acute pain usually lasts for a short time
Acute pain is pain that lasts for less than three to six months or pain that is directly related to tissue injury. This includes pain from a needle prick or paper cut. Acute pain can also be described as:
The iron or hot stove. The pain can be intense, fast, and immediate. It will also cause the body to withdraw almost immediately. Within a few seconds of the withdrawal and initial pain, another type, more severe, of pain will likely be felt.
Smashing your finger with a hammer. The pain of hitting a hot stove is very similar in that it causes immediate pain and withdrawal. After that, the pain becomes a slower, more aching sensation.
Labor pains. Pain during childbirth can be severe and easily diagnosed.
Chronic pain can be more likely if the pain continues to persist. These include the pain signal still reaching the central nervous system even after tissue has healed, lack of exercise (physical deconditioning), thoughts about pain, and emotional states like depression and anxiety.
Chronic pain continues even after tissue healing
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three to six months or beyond the point where tissue healing can be achieved. Depending on the situation, this type of pain could also be called “chronic benign pain” (or “chronic noncancer pain”). Chronic pain from cancer can be either acute or chronic. This is because there is ongoing, identifiable tissue damage. Chronic pain can also be caused by identifiable causes, which we will discuss later. This discussion will use the term “chronic” to refer to chronic pain.
Chronic pain is often less closely related to tissue damage or structural problems. Chronic pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including failed back surgery syndrome (continued discomfort after surgery), fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain. Chronic pain is uncommon compared to acute pain.
Chronic Pain as a Disease: Why Does it Still Hurt? There are three types of back pain: Acute, Chronic, and Neuropathic.
Understanding Chronic Pain
Although chronic pain can come in many forms, it is most often classified as one of these major categories:
An identifiable cause of pain, such as injury, is required. Some structural spine conditions such as degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis can cause continual pain until they are treated. These conditions can be caused by a diagnosable anatomical issue. Spine surgery is usually considered a treatment option if the pain from these conditions persists after nonsurgical treatments. This type of chronic pain could be considered long-term acute pain, even though it is often called chronic pain.
Chronic pain that is not identifiable. Chronic benign pain is a persistent pain that persists even after tissue heals and cannot be explained.
Read More: Chronic pain – Characteristics and Management
Learn how to understand back pain in different types
In some cases, pain may cause a problem by creating a pathway within the nervous system. The nervous system could be sending a signal of pain even though there isn’t any ongoing tissue damage. The pain is caused by the nervous system’s miscommunication. The pain can be a sign of an injury or a disease.
Different Symptoms of Neuropathic Pain
The third type of chronic pain called neuropathic is one that does not show signs of injury. The pain is not related to any injury. Despite no tissue damage, some nerves still send pain messages to the brain.
Learn more about neuropathy and chronic back pain
Although it could be classified as chronic pain, neuropathic pain is more distinct than chronic musculoskeletal or musculoskeletal pain. It is described as intense, sharp, burning, stabbing, or cold. An individual might also feel numbness, weakness, or tingling. The nerve pathway that runs from the spine to the arms/hands and legs/feet may feel like pain.
Neuropathy can be caused by injury to the motor or sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system. The treatment of the problem can allow the nerves gradually to heal, which may ease the pain. The pain may be more difficult to manage if the medical treatment is not given promptly.
The treatment options for neuropathic back pain are different from those for other types. Usually, neuropathic pain is not treated with opiates (such as morphine) or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and COX-2 inhibitors).
Anticonvulsants and antidepressants, which are medications that treat epilepsy or depression, can often reduce symptoms. Topical medication may also be helpful. For neuropathic pain, nerve block injections may be recommended.