Complaints of back pain increased in the pandemic, doctors say; know the causes

Despite not having statistics, for doctors there is no doubt: the Covid-19 pandemic has brought more complaints of back pain to offices.

A less than optimistic estimate from the WHO (World Health Organization) indicates that 80% of the population has had or will have back pain at least once in their lives.

Experts also say that since 2020, internet searches on back pain are more frequent — low back pain is one of the most searched terms.

When observing the Google Trends graphics —the platform’s trend analysis service—, this Monday (6), in 2020 and 2021, there is an increase in searches for low back pain in several weeks, compared to 2019, whose peak of interest only occurred between 12th and 18th of May.

In 2021, the five states that most researched this type of pain were Pará, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco and Tocantins. São Paulo appears in 16th place.

Low back pain is not the only one that can impact an individual’s quality of life, as the spine has two other parts: dorsal and cervical.

In times of pandemic, the pain can be blamed on poor posture due to inadequate adaptation to the home office, stress and even housework when the body is not used to it.

“I have several patients who told me they worked on the sofa at home. Their spine and neck were crooked. Others said they worked on the dining chair. These are scenarios in which people took a long time to adapt or change some habits and now they are suffering the consequences”, says Matheus Felipe Borges Lopes, neurosurgeon at the Institute of Neurological Sciences of São Paulo, member of the Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery and of the North American Spine Society.

Other triggering factors for back pain are genetic predisposition, advanced age, repetitive strain, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, muscle atrophy, osteoarthritis, stenosis, herniated discs and bone wear, among others.

“A lot of people at the beginning [da pandemia] it stopped being treated, including people with chronic diseases. They were afraid to go to the offices because of Covid. Then came the teleconsultation and we managed to bring these patients a little closer, but still many people did not return”, explains Lopes.

“Now, with the release of the restriction measures, there was this increase in demand in two scenarios: the chronic ones, which were already being treated, and the new ones, which often also suffered from the home office or changes in lifestyle and were impacted by stress, anxiety and depression, as pain has everything to do with the person’s emotional context. And there are still those who left the gym, became sedentary and gained weight, suffering with the physical part”, he completes.

According to the expert, the elderly were also harmed, as they had loss of muscle mass and suffered from osteoporosis and lack of vitamin D due to little sun exposure. The problems interfered with cartilage and bone, increasing the risk of falls and fractures.

Alexandre Fogaça, president of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (São Paulo region) and physician at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, USP, says that in most cases back pain is benign and subsides within two months .

“Most are treated conservatively with physiotherapy, weight control, physical activity and medication. The minority need surgery”, he points out.

Fogaça warns that if two months pass, it is necessary to investigate the cause with a doctor, as there are situations in which it may indicate a more serious problem. “There are some warning signs that also show when people should see a doctor: low back pain associated with weight loss and fever, it could be an infection or a tumor; if the pain is associated with loss of strength, sensitivity and change in the control of the bowel and bladder function, can be a neurological compression”, explains Fogaça.

“When it comes after trauma, it may have a fracture. Pain at night’s rest can be a sign of tumors or infections; if it occurs in children and the elderly, this pain has to be investigated”, adds Fogaça.

Benign pain —called mechanicopostural pain— occurs due to a small muscle injury, fatigue or overload of the musculature that supports the spine. “It’s a more incipient pain. It starts slowly and gets worse. When the body moves, it also gets worse. It’s a pain that helps rest, the muscles are sensitive to touch”, explains Lopes.

Pain that wakes the person up at night, burns, radiates to a limb, or is very strong, above five on a scale of zero to ten may be indicative of something more serious.

How to avoid or reduce back pain

• change habits for the better
• keep good posture
• Practice physical activity regularly with the guidance of a doctor and a specialist
• Keep weight proportional to height so as not to overload the spine and cause premature wear
• Keep working hours, especially in the home office, and take a break every two hours; stretch and walk a little
• Place one footrest and the other on the lower back, which should fit snugly into the chair
• Eat healthy and at the right times
• On the computer, keep the monitor at eye level
• Talk on the cell phone holding the device with your hands and do not leave it resting on your shoulders
• Ease the stresses of everyday life
• Balance body and mind: Meditation, relaxation techniques and mindfulness help a lot.