Has Back Pain Found You Yet?
The odds are high, very high, that at
some point
you are going to join the millions who suffer from back and spinal
pain. Why are you so likely to find yourself among
this unlucky group? It could be for a number of
reasons.
However,
the
more you know about your back and its pain triggers, the more
proactive you can be in preventing an injury. And, should you
experience one, the more equipped you will be to deal with the pain.
One thing is for sure - whether it's occasional pain in the morning
or
a chronic
day to day discomfort...
To a great degree our
back health is in our own
hands. And, with some knowledge, prevention,
exercise
and treatment
that includes pampering
we are more likely to find ourselves in
control.
Yes,
pampering!
From my own experience - spoil
your back rotten
and
see how
much better you start to feel.
Cause of Back Pain
How many times have you heard someone complain
about their sore and stiff back muscles, a pulled back muscle, or a
lower back muscle spasm?
Probably, often. And this may be
exactly what's going on if it's short-term
pain they are experiencing.
However...
If it's ongoing, long-term pain, it's
often not
the back muscles
that are
to blame. Although back muscles
can be
over stretched or
injured, it requires a considerable amount of force to do so and does
not happen as often as many people think. In addition, muscles tend to
heal rapidly
and seldom cause pain lasting more than a week. Then what's to blame?
The likely
culprit may be overstretched ligaments and other soft tissue.
Good news, since this type of over stretching is primarily
caused by poor posture
habits, which are
preventable and treatable. Many
people don't realize how important posture is in ALL of our
daily activities - it is not limited to how we stand
and sit.
The way we align our body when we sleep also has an affect
our posture.
Understanding
posture and its effects can be one of the best back pain remedies.
Although posture is a determining factor in
our spine health, there are many other
causes of back and spinal pain
which are not as simple.
Scoliosis
and Skeleton
irregularities - It is natural for our spine to
curve out slightly at the upper back and have a lower back arch.
However, at
times these curves become overly exaggerated, causing pain.
scoliosis
back pain is caused when the spine curves to one
side, or the other.
Bulging
or herniated disks - The spinal vertebrae are cushioned by
small, spongy disks that act as shock absorbers and keep the spine
flexible. A disk may become damaged and then bulge
or break open,
resulting in a herniated disk, also known as a slipped or ruptured disk.
Sciatica
- Sciatica is referred to clinically as a radiculopathy.
This occurs when a bulging or herniated disk presses
on the radicular nerve in the lower back. This nerve forms
part of the
sciatic nerve that travels from the back down the leg. The
result is usually sharp shooting pains through the buttock and down the
back of the leg which may be accompanied by numbness and tingling.
Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis affects many joints, most commonly the
knees,
hips, feet, hands and
lower back. Spinal stenosis can
occur when arthritis in the spine, typically osteoarthritis,
narrows the space around the spinal
cord.
Osteoporosis
- Fragile and brittle bones, as a result of osteoporosis, can
break easily. This type of fracture is known as an
osteoporotic fracture. Some of these are in the form of a
painful vertebral compression fracture, or spinal fracture.
Referred
pain - A pain in one part of the body can easily be felt
in other areas and is known as referred pain. The back may feel the
affect of:
- kidney disease
- a bladder infection
- an ovarian problem
- a pelvic infection
- appendicitis
- acid
reflux disease
or other digestive problem
Although not as prevalent, other causes
may include: an infection in the spine, cancer of the spine, or a
serious neurological problem know as cauda equina syndrome.
You should seek immediate evaluation if you have
any of the following warning signs, or have experienced:
- sharp or stabbing pains
- progressively worsening pains
- extreme
pain in the lower, mid or upper back
- pain not responding to over the counter
medication
- recent back injury
- difficulty with bowel or bladder control
- pain accompanied by fever, chills or sweating
- sleep is interrupted by pain
- other unusual symptoms persist
Lower Back Pain
Most back ache complaints
are of the lower back,
originating in the lumbar spine.
When we are upright, the
lumbar spine bears the weight of the body above it and transmits that
weight to our hips when we are sitting
and to our legs and feet when
we are standing or walking. It also provides a flexible
connection between the upper and lower parts of the body, protects the
spinal cord, and has a greater weight bearing function than the
remainder of our spine.
Because of the multiple functions of the lumbar
spine, injuries in this area are particularly painful and often radiate
to other parts of our body, resulting in:
Conversely, because of the alterations we make in
the way we walk,
stand and sit when we have pain in our feet, knees, hips, or neck and
shoulders, those pains in turn will often produce low back pain.
Did you know that even a tight hamstring
muscle
can result in
lower back pain?
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