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Lower Back Pain
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Published: October 10, 2006
This year, more Americans will miss work because of lower back pain than almost any other ailment, according to Amy L. Sutton's Back and Neck Sourcebook.
Almost everyone will have to cope with the discomfort and inconvenience back pain provides at some point in their life. So what exactly causes back pain and – more importantly – how can it be treated?
Lower back pain can be classified into two predominant categories: acute and chronic.
Acute back pain, is short-term, and lasts anywhere from days to weeks. Symptoms of acute back pain include a decreased ability to maintain proper posture, reduced flexibility and pain in the spinal muscles and joints. Chronic back pain shares many of the same symptoms. However, people with this type of back pain suffer with symptoms for three or more months.
To understand some of the causes of lower back pain, one should have a brief understanding of the structure of the spine itself. Technically speaking, doctors refer to the structures of the lower back as the lumbar vertebrae. The lumbar region of the spine serves a crucial biological purpose: it supports the weight of the upper body. With such a demanding function, one can see why most people experience back pain in this region.
The majority of doctors agree that lower back pain follows injury or trauma to the back. Even something as mundane as lifting a heavy load inappropriately can strain spinal muscles and cause pain. Some children and adolescents suffer from lower back pain simply from bearing the load of a heavy backpack. While this is true, a fair amount of pain in the lumbar region results from degenerative conditions like arthritis.
Certain medical conditions may also trigger discomfort, including spondylitis, a spinal infection known to painfully inflame the lower back. A herniated disc commonly plays a role in lower back pain. A disc becomes herniated, or protrudes, when it weakens. Intervertebral discs are under constant pressure; sometimes cartilage can push its way out of its normal alignment, putting pressure on the spinal cord and consequently causing pain. Sciatica refers to a condition in which a herniated disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Fortunately, men and women suffering from lower back pain possess a variety of treatment options. The good news: most times treatments do not involve surgery. Over-the-counter medications can help reduce inflammation and pain. Interestingly, antidepressants show promise as pain relievers and sleep aids.
Exercise can help tremendously. In fact, doctors now advise patients to embrace activity as a means to combat lower back pain. Gone are the days when bed rest was a standard treatment for an achy back. A couple of days of rest should be plenty. Activities such as walking and swimming provide great methods to strengthen muscles without tremendous impact on the joints. Depending on the injury, lower back stretches may reduce muscle stiffness.
Though many will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives, with the treatment options available to those who seek them, the discomfort and pain involved do not need to pose a threat to a normal lifestyle.
Sources:
Sutton, Amy L., ed. Back and Neck Sourcebook. Detroit: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004.
Tanner, John. Better Back. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2003.
Almost everyone will have to cope with the discomfort and inconvenience back pain provides at some point in their life. So what exactly causes back pain and – more importantly – how can it be treated?
Lower back pain can be classified into two predominant categories: acute and chronic.
Acute back pain, is short-term, and lasts anywhere from days to weeks. Symptoms of acute back pain include a decreased ability to maintain proper posture, reduced flexibility and pain in the spinal muscles and joints. Chronic back pain shares many of the same symptoms. However, people with this type of back pain suffer with symptoms for three or more months.
To understand some of the causes of lower back pain, one should have a brief understanding of the structure of the spine itself. Technically speaking, doctors refer to the structures of the lower back as the lumbar vertebrae. The lumbar region of the spine serves a crucial biological purpose: it supports the weight of the upper body. With such a demanding function, one can see why most people experience back pain in this region.
The majority of doctors agree that lower back pain follows injury or trauma to the back. Even something as mundane as lifting a heavy load inappropriately can strain spinal muscles and cause pain. Some children and adolescents suffer from lower back pain simply from bearing the load of a heavy backpack. While this is true, a fair amount of pain in the lumbar region results from degenerative conditions like arthritis.
Certain medical conditions may also trigger discomfort, including spondylitis, a spinal infection known to painfully inflame the lower back. A herniated disc commonly plays a role in lower back pain. A disc becomes herniated, or protrudes, when it weakens. Intervertebral discs are under constant pressure; sometimes cartilage can push its way out of its normal alignment, putting pressure on the spinal cord and consequently causing pain. Sciatica refers to a condition in which a herniated disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Fortunately, men and women suffering from lower back pain possess a variety of treatment options. The good news: most times treatments do not involve surgery. Over-the-counter medications can help reduce inflammation and pain. Interestingly, antidepressants show promise as pain relievers and sleep aids.
Exercise can help tremendously. In fact, doctors now advise patients to embrace activity as a means to combat lower back pain. Gone are the days when bed rest was a standard treatment for an achy back. A couple of days of rest should be plenty. Activities such as walking and swimming provide great methods to strengthen muscles without tremendous impact on the joints. Depending on the injury, lower back stretches may reduce muscle stiffness.
Though many will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives, with the treatment options available to those who seek them, the discomfort and pain involved do not need to pose a threat to a normal lifestyle.
Sources:
Sutton, Amy L., ed. Back and Neck Sourcebook. Detroit: Omnigraphics, Inc., 2004.
Tanner, John. Better Back. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 2003.
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