Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Back pain is generally categorized into one of four types – mechanical, inflammatory, neuropathic and referred. We’re creating a four-part series that takes a closer look at each type of back pain and how it is most commonly treated. We’re going to begin the series by looking at mechanical back pain and discussing how this common type of back pain can be effectively treated.

What Is Mechanical Back Pain?

Mechanical back pain is discomfort that is caused by stress, strain or a structural issue with a main component of your spine, like a joint, bone, soft tissue or muscle. It is far and away the most common type of back pain. Examples of common sources of mechanical back pain include a spinal muscle strain, a degenerative spinal disc, facet joint arthritis, a herniated disc or a vertebral fracture.

Symptoms that suggest your back pain is mechanical in nature include:

• Discomfort that worsens with movement or increased stress on the spine
• Symptoms that improve with rest
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Pain that impacts your ability to move or walk naturally

If your back discomfort is presenting with more severe symptoms, like a fever, loss of bladder control or severe numbness/weakness in your legs, seek out emergency care.

Treating Mechanical Back Pain

Mild and moderate cases of mechanical back pain may respond well to conservative efforts pursued at home, so you may find that you’re able to treat the condition on your own. Some of the most common treatment options for these types of mechanical back pain conditions include:

• Short-Term Rest – Protecting the area from additional stress in the short term can prevent further injury and limit symptoms.
• Gentle Stretching/Low-Impact Exercise – A gradual reintroduction to physical activities can help your body recover from the injury and regain strength that was lost as a result of the injury or because of an extended low activity period. Exercise and movement will help improve strength, mobility, range of motion and overall function in the spine.
• Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is incredibly helpful for most patients dealing with mechanical back pain. Similar to exercise, it helps patients become stronger and regain more function in their spine, but the therapy exercises can be targeted to specific areas of the back to provide the most benefit. A physical therapist can develop an individualized physical therapy routine to your unique injury and recovery goals.
• Medication – Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can help diminish symptoms you’re experiencing as a result of your mechanical back pain, but they will not treat the underlying cause of symptoms, so don’t expect your pain to fully resolve simply by taking a pill.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Sometimes physical treatments are paired with CBT, which helps patients reframe how they think about their pain or respond to it. By reframing how we perceive and respond to pain, we can gain more control over how it impacts our life.

If you connect with a specialist or your primary care physician, odds are they’ll recommend a few of the above treatments as part of your initial care program. If these techniques fail to provide relief, or you’re dealing with severe symptoms, more hands on care may be required. Corticosteroid injections may pair well with the above techniques to limit symptoms while active treatments are being pursued. In more extreme cases, or if back pain has persisted for months with no improvement despite conservative measures, a minimally invasive surgical procedure may be recommended. Your doctor can walk you through the specifics of a procedure should it become necessary, but most patients find enough relief through non-operative care such that a surgery is not necessary.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Sinicropi

Stay tuned to our blog for the rest of the series, which includes a deep dive into treatment options for inflammatory, neuropathic and referred spine pain! And as always, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today if you want a professional to take a closer look at your back. Give Dr. Sinicropi a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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