A A +A
Jata

WELCOME TO OFFICIAL PORTAL
MYHEALTH MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA

Backache

Backache is pain or discomfort in the back, most commonly in the lower back region.

Definition

Backache is pain or discomfort in the back, most commonly in the lower back region.

Causes

There are many causes for backache. In about 75% of the cases the exact cause is not identifiable. As for the other 25% the causes may include:-

  • Muscular
    • Muscle sprain
    • Muscle tear (sport injury)
    • Muscle fatigue
  • Bone
    • Prolapsed or ruptured intervertebral disc
    • Spine fracture
    • Deformed bone
    • Bone cancer
  • Others
    • Incorrect posture
    • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
    • Growth or cancer within the pelvic cavity
    • Urinary calculi (stones)
    • Psychological
      • Stress related

Signs & Symptoms

When to see a doctor?

  • Feeling of numbness in buttock, legs, thighs and foot
  • Weakness or total paralysis of the leg muscles
  • Pain spreading down to the leg
  • Sharp pain
  • Severely restricting the person’s movement and performance of daily activities
  • When there are associated symptoms like:-
    • Fever
    • Low abdominal pain
    • Pain during passing of urine or during defecation
    • Headache
  • Associated with menses

Complications

Depending on the cause, complications of untreated backache can be:-

  • Weakness or paralysis of the leg muscles
  • Permanent deformity
  • Undetected cancer

If the causes of backache are from internal organ like PID or any gynaecological organ and left untreated, this may lead to infertility and other complications

Treatment

Uncomplicated backache can be relieved by:

  • Adequate rest
  • Back stretches
  • Physiotherapy
  • Local application of liniments
  • Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Treat the underlying cause of backache for example PID

Prevention

  • Practicing a correct posture while sitting, standing and lifting weight
  • Take a break to stretch your back
  • Avoid injury to your back
  • Regular medical check up, for example, Pap Smear to detect cervical cancer
  • Maintain an ideal body mass index
  • If you have reached menopause, get adequate calcium and other nutrition to prevent osteoporosis
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Rehabilition

Rehabilitation involves taking medication like Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatony Drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Last Reviewed : 28 August 2020
Writer : Dr. Hamdan Buyong
Reviewer : Dr. Nor Faizah bt. Ghazali

Related Article

Abdominal Pain

Stomach ache or abdominal pain is a common complaint. Abdominal pain by itself is not a disease but is a symptom of a variety of underlying disorders. May have symptoms of heartburn, gas, bloating and burping.

Flu

Commonly known as the flu. It is caused by influenza virus (A ,B and C). Strains of influenza virus that cause the flu may differ from year to year. The common contagious diseases in humans and responsible for outbreaks that occur yearly.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins located in the lower part of the rectum and anus. They become pathological when swollen or inflamed. 

ADDRESS

Bahagian Pendidikan Kesihatan,
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia,
Aras 1-3, Blok E10, Kompleks E,
Kompleks Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62590 Putrajaya, Malaysia.

GENERAL LINE :   +603 8000 8000

FAX :   +603 8888 6200

EMAIL :   myhealth@moh.gov.my

VISITORS : 219,223,350

LAST UPDATE :
2024-03-19 08:57:27
FOLLOW US

BEST VIEW   Best viewed with Internet Explorer 10 and above, Mozilla Firefox 40 above, or Google Chrome 40 and above or Safari 4 and above with minimum resolution at 1366 x 768

Copyright ©2005-2022 Health Online Unit, Ministry of Health Malaysia