Back pain sends many people to the medicine counters, doctors and chiropractors everyday. Millions of dollars are spent trying to find relief from both chronic and temporary back pain. Studies have shown that 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their life. If you have ever wandered around hunched over or if you have been stuck in bed due to back pain, you know how back pain can interrupt your daily life. Since back pain is so common and so widespread, we need to understand the components of the back, what causes back pain and the treatment possibilities.
Parts of the Back:
The back is made up of the spinal column, neural elements and supporting structures. The spinal column alone has over 20 vertebrae, seven in the neck, twelve in the upper back, five in the lower back and three to five in the tailbone. The spinal cord and spinal nerves make up the neural elements. (The spinal cord runs from the base of the brain to about the middle of the back.) The muscles and spinal ligaments form the supporting structure. The ligaments are extremely important in keeping the spine stable and connecting the vertebrae. If any one of these muscles, nerves, or vertebrae is damaged then horrific back pain can follow.
Causes of Back Pain:
Back pain can have numerous causes. The most common cause for back pain is strain. Simple strains and pulled muscles can limit your activity, stop you from enjoying your family, and even affect your mood. Sometimes stress and tension can cause the muscles to tighten up or cause headaches and back pain. Yes, tension headaches are often a result of back problems. Arthritis and osteoporosis affect the joints and vertebrae causing swelling and pain. More serious issues include herniated discs and broken vertebrae. Rare but very serious causes for back pain include cancer, infection and Cauda equina syndrome.
Treatment of Back Pain:
In general, resuming normal or at least as close to normal activity as soon as possible is recommended. Sleeping on your side with a pillow in between your knees may be helpful, but stretching exercises are generally discouraged because it can add additional pressure or strain to the nerves and muscles. Long term bed rest is not recommended either, as it usually adds to length of the recovery.
When it comes to over the counter medication, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are commonly used for short-term pain relief. Long term use of ibuprofen increases your risk for ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Be sure to speak to your medical doctor before taking any medications.
Spinal manipulation done by chiropractors is used for more severe or longer lasting back pain. Progressive Rehab combining both chiropractic manipulation and physical therapy has been successful for many back pain sufferers. Progressive Rehab involves identifying the problem and setting a specific treatment plan to relieve and stabilize your back.
Surgery is rarely used as a treatment except for the most severe cases. It is considered helpful in some progressive nerve damage cases and the cauda equina syndrome or sciatica.
Author Resource:-
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