Back Pain Decoded: Real Clues, Red Flags & Fast Relief

The Longevity Podcast: Optimizing HealthSpan & MindSpan

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This episode decodes back pain with practical, clinically aligned clues that help you separate simple strains from disc issues, stenosis, referred kidney pain, and the rare but serious conditions that need urgent care. Instead of guessing, we map a clear framework for diagnosing patterns, avoiding unnecessary imaging, and using daily biomechanics to speed recovery and prevent recurrence.

We start by distinguishing mechanical vs. referred pain, then break down the most common causes: muscular strains from overload or poor lifting technique; arthritis and fractures in older adults or those with osteoporosis risk; hallmark signs of disc protrusion and sciatica; and the classic pattern of spinal stenosis, often relieved by leaning forward. We also highlight when back pain signals something outside the spine—such as kidney infections marked by fever and flank pain, or fibromyalgia and inflammatory back pain that follow distinct profiles.

You’ll learn the essential red flags that require immediate medical attention, when imaging actually matters, and realistic timelines for conservative recovery. We close with a prevention blueprint built on posture, sleep, core strength, proper lifting technique, supportive footwear, and long-term bone health.

High-volume keywords used: back pain, sciatica, spinal stenosis, disc injury, red flags, osteoporosis, biomechanics, recovery

Listener Takeaways

• How to distinguish mechanical vs. referred back pain
• Clues for strains, disc issues, stenosis, and kidney-related pain
• Red flags that require urgent evaluation
• When imaging helps—and when it doesn’t
• Daily biomechanics that prevent trouble and speed recovery

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This podcast is created by Ai for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical or health advice. Please talk to your healthcare team for medical advice.

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Chapitres

1. Why Back Pain Confuses Us (00:00:00)

2. Mechanical vs Referred Pain (00:01:05)

3. Strains, Overload, And Arthritis (00:02:02)

4. Fractures And Osteoporosis (00:03:20)

5. Discs, Sciatica, And Stenosis (00:03:55)

6. Referred Kidney Pain And Rare Causes (00:04:41)

7. Non‑Negotiable Red Flags (00:05:03)

8. Strain vs Disc: Symptom Clues (00:06:02)

9. Stenosis And The Shopping Cart Test (00:07:00)

10. Fibromyalgia And Inflammatory Patterns (00:08:00)

11. Cancer Pain And Kidney Infections (00:09:10)

12. Diagnosis And When To Image (00:10:05)

13. Recovery Timelines And Expectations (00:11:10)

14. Prevention: Posture, Sleep, And Core (00:12:00)

15. Lifting Mechanics And Footwear (00:13:15)

16. Bone Health And Screening (00:14:20)

17. Acute Care And Pain Relief (00:15:10)

18. Who Needs A Doctor And When (00:16:05)

19. Empowerment Through Small Daily Changes (00:17:00)