Ronjeet Reddy, MD, is a board-certified pain management physician and anesthesiologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. He sees patients at the Kaiser Permanente Largo Medical Center.
Back pain is one of the leading reasons people miss work in the United States, and the second most common reasons people go to the doctor. Affecting millions of Americans each year, back pain can be a short-term inconvenience or a long-term, life-altering chronic condition.
At Kaiser Permanente, we know that early intervention leads to better outcomes. That’s why we created the Back Pain Institute (BPI), a coordinated program designed to help patients with acute back pain get the right care quickly and seamlessly. By identifying concerning symptoms early and initiating treatment right away, we help patients recover faster and reduce the likelihood that acute pain will become chronic.
Who Gets Back Pain
Anyone can suffer from back pain. In fact, most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. For some people, the pain seemingly comes out of nowhere. Other people may know exactly what triggered the back ache, such as being in a car accident or lifting something the wrong way. Often, the underlying contributors are gradual changes in a person’s body and routine: deconditioning from inactivity, weight gain, poor diet, or stiffening of muscles and joints over time.
Some of the chief causes of back pain include:
- Heavy lifting with improper technique (including snow shoveling)
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls or other traumatic injuries
- Weight gain: Excess weight increases pressure on the spine. Relatedly, poor core and lower body strength can increase risk of back pain.
- Age-related changes. As people get older, normal wear and tear on the spine accumulates. Arthritis, disc degeneration and decreased bone density make older adults more susceptible to back pain. This is particularly important for post-menopausal women, who are prone to osteoporosis.
Preventing Back Pain
Though we don’t always know what causes someone’s back pain, there are steps people can take to lower their risk of developing back problems. We know that long‑term spine health depends heavily on a healthy lifestyle. Key preventive measures include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly, including strength-training exercises and balance exercises
- Avoiding smoking. Smoking reduces blood flow to spinal discs and accelerates degeneration
- Eating an anti‑inflammatory diet
- Practicing proper lifting techniques in daily activities. Do not twist when lifting. If possible, try to avoid lifting heavy objects.
Treating Back Pain At Home
Most episodes of acute back pain improve on their own within a few days to a few weeks. Many patients with acute back pain don’t need imaging, injections or surgery, or even a visit to a doctor.
Though people with back pain may feel like lying in bed, I encourage patients to try gentle, low-impact stretching exercises to speed recovery. Yoga, walking and swimming can help. If you’re not sure what exercises to try, reach out to your doctor for advice.
Over-the-counter pain relief can also help ease symptoms. Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and topical pain-relief patches, creams or gels can ease inflammation. Check with your doctor to make sure taking over-the-counter medication is safe for you.
Many patients find that applying heat and/or ice eases back pain.
Usually, the sooner someone starts these treatments at home, the sooner they will feel better.
When to See a Doctor
While most cases of back pain improve with home care, certain symptoms warrant prompt medical attention. Patients should seek care immediately if they experience back pain accompanied by:
- Pain radiating into the legs
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the lower extremities
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Fever
- Symptoms that worsen despite home treatment
Some of these symptoms can signal more serious medical conditions. Patients should also immediately reach out if they’ve been in a car accident or experienced a trauma, such as a fall.
For patients without red‑flag symptoms, contacting their primary care physician is typically the next step. This provider can help determine whether the pain requires urgent evaluation, imaging, medication or referral to a specialist.
The Back Pain Institute at Kaiser Permanente: Fast, Focused Care for Acute Pain
The Kaiser Permanente Back Pain Institute was created to simplify the experience for patients and ensure they receive timely, appropriate care. The BPI focuses specifically on patients with acute or subacute low back pain – meaning symptoms that have developed within the last six months. The Back Pain Institute sees patients at Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Tysons Corner, Gaithersburg and Lutherville-Timonium, as well as the Lanham Rehabilitation Center.
The process begins with a patient completing an online e‑visit or calling the Kaiser Permanente call center. A triage system then screens for any red flags. Patients with signs of serious conditions or trauma are directed immediately to emergency or specialty care.
Patients who qualify for the Back Pain Institute benefit from a one-stop shop model where they receive a comprehensive evaluation by a medical doctor and physical therapist. The medical team then collaborates to create an individualized treatment plan for each patient. The plan may include physical therapy and a robust series of follow-up appointments to monitor progress.
If needed, patients can also receive imaging studies, trigger point injections and pain management support.
When patients require advanced care, such as spine surgery or spinal injections, the Back Pain Institute ensures a smooth transition to the appropriate expert.
By intervening early, the BPI helps patients avoid the progression from acute to chronic pain. Chronic back pain is more challenging to treat and can require more invasive therapies.
Back pain may be common, but it doesn’t have to be prolonged or debilitating. With early treatment, proper guidance, and healthy lifestyle habits, most people can recover quickly. Early intervention also allows patients to get back to work, family, exercise, and the routines they enjoy, greatly improving overall quality of life and saving the patient time, money, and stress.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
