Causes and Treatment of Middle Right Side Back Pain
1. Introduction
Back pain is a common complaint among middle-aged and elderly individuals. The exact cause for back pain is often not clear and it is thought to be the result of a lifetime of improper body mechanics, trauma, or medical conditions. The thoracic spine is a rare cause of pain because the spine does not move as much as the cervical or lumbar spine. The intervertebral discs of the thoracic spine are a lot thinner compared to the lumbar and cervical spine. Movement and structural support is the main role of the thoracic spine. There are, however, a number of muscles and ligaments that can be a source of pain, as well as joints and some medical conditions. Pain in the thoracic spine is often less likely to be caused by a disc problem. This essay will discuss the condition of middle right back pain. This is a common pain that occurs and it is essential for the patient to get an x-ray to determine its cause. This type of pain can be relieved with medication and/or physical therapy. There are a number of causes for this type of pain and they all relate to some kind of trauma or medical condition. Overall, back pain can limit a person’s ability to move, exercise, or partake in other normal daily activities. Since the thoracic spine is such a vital part of the skeletal structure, it is essential to take care of any spinal conditions in order to prevent making it worse or injuring other parts of the spine. This information can be useful for anyone who has experienced middle right back pain and it is important to discuss this with your doctor. This information can also be helpful in preventing any type of thoracic spinal pain.
2. Common Causes of Middle Right Side Back Pain
Muscle strain A very common cause of middle right side back pain is muscle strain. This can be caused by many different motions. It can be caused by an awkward twisting motion, poor posture, overuse of the muscle during physical activity, and even sitting for a prolonged period of time can cause muscle strain. A back muscle strain can be extremely painful. It can cause pain with movement, breathing, and coughing. The area will be tender to the touch and muscle spasms can occur. Injury An injury to the back can cause pain in the middle back. Injuries such as sprains and fractures can cause severe to debilitating pain. If a spinal fracture is severe, it can lead to a curvature in the spine and cause what is called a dowager's hump. Ruptured disk A ruptured intervertebral disk can cause severe back pain. Each disk in the spine is cushioned between two vertebrae. The disks are composed of a tough outer layer and a softer inner layer. If too much pressure is placed on the disk, it can cause the disk to rupture and the inner layer to push on nerves, which causes severe pain.
3. Diagnosis and Medical Evaluation
Medical evaluation is necessary to attempt to diagnose the cause of your pain so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause. It usually begins with the doctor obtaining a history of the pain. Important points to cover include the nature of the pain, past episodes of similar pain and if impairing activities or if anything makes the pain feel better or worse. Also, you will be asked about any past injuries to your back, surgery, or medical problems. Next, the doctor will do a physical examination. This helps to detect signs of muscle spasm, tenderness, numbness, and general tests of your muscle strength and sensation. A crucial part of the examination is identifying signs that may suggest the need for an operation. Once again, symptoms from nerve involvement can often be the most serious and these can include weakness of an ankle in walking or an inability to lift the big toe. These can suggest nerve root compression in the lower back and require urgent surgical decompression. Symptoms that affect control of the bladder or bowel function may also require urgent surgery and a doctor may do a test of bowel function and urination, known as a cauda equina examination. If the history and physical examination strongly suggest a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, then an MRI or CT scan (see below) is usually done. These tests should only be done if an abnormal finding would result in the need for surgery or an invasive epidural injection, or if the diagnosis is still unclear after simple treatments and a period of observation. The MRI is the best test but in situations where it is not available the CT scan is an adequate alternative. An X-ray is another option but it only shows changes of the bone and is not a good test for seeing most soft tissue problems. Any diagnostic doubts missed by these tests can sometimes be clarified with a Myelogram followed by a CT, but this test is not often used in modern medical practice.
- Diagnostic Studies B. Clinical Examinations C. Specialty Procedures (Injections, EMG, etc.) D. What To Expect From Your Doctor E. Prognosis
4. Treatment Options
Individuals with mechanical or nerve related pain may benefit from physiotherapy. A physiotherapist will be able to assess the back and put together a treatment package specific to the pain. Programs are usually to strengthen the muscles in the back and improve posture to reduce the strain on the back. Sports massage is another treatment often used for mechanical pain and can alleviate pain in the short and long term. A session at work with a computer, settings such as putting regular breaks have been cushions in to support the back, improve posture or using, Charsets and similar devices may need to be put into place to stop further irritation to the post and make. The end may be an option if all treatments have been unsuccessful and the problem is disc related back and leg pain usually respond well to surgery and have a good chance of full recovery. Recovery is achieved when surgery back to normal everyday activities without any pain.
Common treatments to middle right side back pain which is caused by soft tissue damage and referred pain are anti-inflammatory and pain relief medicine. These can ease the pain and allow the individual to carry on with everyday activities making everyday life easier. Medications can be used in conjunction with other treatments or as a standalone treatment. Acupuncture is another common or garden approach to middle right side back pain treatment. Acupuncture can help release natural painkillers in the brain. Evidence of its effectiveness is limited but many individuals report back positive results. A more traditional approach to treating the soft tissue damage is the 'R.I.C.E' method. This method can help speed up the recovery. R stands for rest, I for ice, C for compression and E for elevation.
Treatment Options The treatments for middle right side back pain will depend on what the cause of the pain is. After your back has been assessed by a medic, they should have some idea what is causing the pain. If not, further tests such as MRI's, x-rays and CT scans may be needed to ascertain the cause. From here treatment can begin.
5. Prevention and Self-Care Tips
Consumption of fat is one of the risk factors for gallbladder stones. One way to decrease consumption of fats is to increase intake of vegetables, cereals, fruits, and breads. Moderation is the key to reducing the intake of fats, sweets, and alcohol. Weight control is certainly a good preventive measure. It is not good to lose weight rapidly because it can increase cholesterol in the bile and decrease the amount of gallbladder movements. These are the key factors to concentrate on with weight reduction: gradual loss in weight, limit foods with high cholesterol and low fiber; increase exercise, and avoid high cholesterol crash diets. There is no certain way to prevent gallstones when the stones are related to factors that cannot be cured. This is the case when the condition is associated with cirrhosis of the liver, hemolytic anemia, and other diseases. For this type of situation, treatment to prevent symptoms and complications may be needed but effort to avoid gallbladder surgery is usually appropriate.
Prevention of gallstones is the best treatment. Undoubtedly, preventing gallstones is the best treatment. If no symptoms are being experienced, watchful waiting is safe. To prevent symptoms and complications, an elective surgery to remove the gallbladder should be performed. This is the treatment of choice if the attacks are severe. It is not advisable to try medications to dissolve stones. These medications work slowly and may cause diarrhea. Reappearance of symptoms after treatment is common. Gallstones are never a life-threatening disease. If something triggers an attack, rest and warmth usually relieve it. An evaluation of the symptoms is important. Symptoms of other gallbladder diseases and other abdominal afflictions can be similar to those of gallstones. Some people do not have typical symptoms and the stones are found during tests for another condition. In a small number of cases, silent gallstones discovered during X-ray studies being done for other medical problems cause concerns and treatment. If gallstones are responsible for inflammation that is causing severe abdominal or back pain, high fever, or jaundice, surgery to remove the gallbladder is usually indicated. There aren't any strong data regarding lifestyle factors that lead to gallstone formation.