What causes acute back pain to become chronic?

Most of us will deal with acute back pain at some point in our lives, and for some of us acute back pain unfortunately turns to chronic back pain.

According to the Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, chronic back pain is one of the leading reasons for missed work and doctor’s visits and has consequences beyond living with daily pain.

Unfortunately, it seems that even though many people consult with their doctors when they have back pain, there are few treatment options that primary physicians can offer. As a matter of fact, an article in the June 2021 issue of Acupuncture Today, cites a study suggesting that an important factor leading to chronicity is when patients receive “nonconcordant care, or care not consistent with established guidelines” from primary care doctors.

According to the article, “nonconcordant care can lead to direct and indirect harm, given that it has been linked with medicalization and unnecessary health care utilization… Nonconcordant care as provided to study participants was divided into three categories: pharmacologic, diagnostic, and medical subspecialty referral. Almost 50 percent of patients received at least one form of nonconcordant care within the first 21 days – many for non-guideline-recommended medications such as opioids.”

Unfortunately, primary care doctors don’t have a lot of tools when it comes to dealing with acute back pain, and often their only treatment options are to prescribe muscle relaxants and pain medications, or at best send you to a physical therapist.

So, what treatment options does someone with acute back pain have?

Therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic, all provide great tools for dealing with this common problem and should be considered as the first treatment options when confronted with acute back pain. And to avoid an acute problem turning into a chronic one, the sooner treatment can begin, the better!

Acupuncture for low back pain will focus on reducing tension and inflammation in muscle tissue and activating local circulation to support healing in the tissue. If muscle tension has led to nerve compression, it will ease pressure on nerves by releasing tension in the muscle surrounding them. It will speed up the recovery process and will provide pain relief.

While I hope that you don't have to deal with acute or chronic back pain, do keep in mind that acupuncture is a good treatment option should you be faced with back pain. I would love to help you get some relief.