Low Back Pain Ought To Be Looked At
Back pain can be caused by many things. People often think it has to do with age alone. Low back pain, however, can have many causes. It can also afflict people of all ages.
The back is made up of many parts. The centre piece structure that holds the back in place is the spinal column, which also has the task of protecting the spinal cord and the multitude of nerves and nervous pathways that go up and down the torso. The spine itself is made up of vertebrae, and each vertebrae is separated from its neighbours above and below by round pads of cartilage called discs. Ligaments and tendons hold the vertebrae in place and attach the muscles of the back to the spinal column. The vertebrae are divided up into parts called the cervical or neck vertebrae, the thoracic or upper torso vertebrae, the lumbar vertebra or lower back area, and the root of the spine where the tailbone is located. Low back pain occurs in the lumbar part of the spine.
Depending on how long someone suffers from back pain, their pain may be considered acute or chronic. Low back pain that endures for a few days to a few weeks, or at least less than three months, is considered acute. Chronic back pain, on the other hand, lasts longer than just three months.
Given the tough job the spine and back have to do, it’s no wonder that posture alone can cause low back pain. Things like obesity, weight gain during pregnancy, and a poor physical condition in general make it hard for the back to do its job of keeping the spine straight. Weight loss and healthy living alone can often improve back pain tremendously.
There are other conditions that cause low back pain, and many of these include trauma to the back. Car accidents that jar the body and whip the torso around can hurt the back. So too can overstretching of the back or attempts to carry something too heavy. These types of trauma can make the discs in the spinal column bulge outward, as well as irritating the nerves involved in the back itself. Back trauma can also result in muscle irritation and bone lesions. On their own, these can be difficult to deal with but they may heal. Untreated, they can develop into much more severe conditions.
Sciatica can often be a result of untreated low back pain. This condition is caused when herniated or ruptured discs in the spine press down on the sciatic nerve that runs down the spinal column to the pelvis. People with sciatica experience shock like or burning pain in their back that shoots through the buttocks and down a leg, often traveling to below the knee.
Having low back pain is one of the most common of all job related disabilities and missed time at work. The back aches severely, and sufferers experience shooting and stabbing pains. People may not be able to stand up straight, or may not be able to bend. Both men and women are afflicted equally by back pain, and every year Americans spend approximately fifty billion dollars in back pain treatments. Back pain and trauma can be caused by age afflictions like osteoporosis but even housework, gardening and improper lifting of heavy objects can be the cause. Even teenagers can suffer back pain from heavy backpacks, poor sleeping habits and bad posture.
It’s important to see a doctor whenever a person experiences any sort of back trauma. Low back pain that doesn’t go away after a few days should be looked at, given the opportunity for it to turn into something else. It may also be a sign of another type of ailment. Consider visiting a doctor if back pain persists or seems out of place.
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