Side Effect: Back Pain

What is Back Pain?

Back pain is a common symptom experienced by many people and can have various causes, including muscle strain, nerve problems, or spine conditions. Back pain can be experienced by patients with cancer and the pain may range from a mild ache to severe, debilitating pain that affects daily activities.

What does Back Pain look like?

Back pain can range from mild to severe, and it may be constant or intermittent. It can also be localized or spread across a larger area. The exact presentation of back pain may vary depending on the underlying cause, but common features include:

• Pain that is persistent
• Worsens with movement or activity
• May be associated with other symptoms such as weakness or numbness in the extremities.

If you have back pain, try to be as specific as possible when describing the location, intensity, and triggers of the pain to the doctor as this will help them determine what treatment options might be available.

Who gets Back Pain?

• Back pain can occur in anyone, and is more common in people as they age. Poor posture, lack of exercise, and poor core strength may contribute to developing back pain or the inability to may it go away.
• Back pain in patients with cancer can be caused or worsened by a variety of factors, including the primary cancer itself, metastatic spread, or treatment-related side effects such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
  • Patients with cancer who are at higher risk of developing back pain include those with bone metastases, spinal cord compression, or tumors that invade the spinal column. If back pain is due to a tumor compressing the spine, this is considered a medical emergency.
  • On occasion, in addition to pain, patients who have tumors near their spine lose control of their bowel and bladder function, and may not be able to move one or both legs due to pinched nerves that control these functions.

How to prevent Back Pain

Prevention of back pain in patient with cancer begins with:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• ensuring good posture.
• focusing on developing or maintaining core strength
• engaging in regular physical activity
• avoiding prolonged periods of sitting or standing can help reduce strain on the back muscles and regular exercise can strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility.

In addition, prevention of back pain involves addressing risk factors such as bone metastases or spinal cord compression before they develop. This may involve early detection and treatment of cancer, including regular monitoring with imaging studies, and the use of bone strengthening medications in certain individuals.

How to treat Back Pain

The treatment of back pain in patients with cancer depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the pain. Pain management strategies may include medications such as opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or medications to treat nerve pain, as well as non-pharmacologic approaches such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or nerve blocks.

In some cases, anti-inflammatory steroids (such as dexamethasone) plus radiation therapy or surgery may be necessary to treat the underlying cancer or to address complications such as spinal cord compression.