Back Pain

Common Back Pain Problems

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems that people deal with today. It’s so common that studies show that four out of every five people in the United States will experience pain in the lower back at least once in their life. More people miss work and seek medical attention for back pain than for anything other reason. There are many different causes for back pain and some of them can be prevented. 

The back is one of the most complicated parts of the body when it comes to structure. You have bones, tendons, ligaments and disks. A disk is the cartilage that cushions the area between the segments of the spine. These can become worn or damaged causing the person to experience lots of pain. A bulging or ruptured disk is the most common when it comes to this type of back problem. The disk will bulge out of its designated place or rupture causing the disk to press on the nerves in the surrounding area. Other conditions that affect the back include arthritis, skeletal irregularities, sciatica and osteoporosis.

Back strains are the most common cause of pain in the lower part of the back. These are caused by moving in an awkward way twisting the muscles in the back. Straining and pulling on items that are heavy or trying to lift something without using the proper techniques can also cause a person to strain their back.

There are some serious conditions that cause back pain that are rare but that do occur. These include infection or cancer located in the spine and a serious neurological problem called Cauda Equina Syndrome. In some cases, there may not be a specific reason for the pain a person feels in their back. They simply have aches and pain that may be due to over exertion or doing something they are not use to.

When it comes to treating back pain there are several options depending on the cause of the pain. For minor aches and pain caused by overuse, resting for a couple of days and taking over-the-counter pain relievers normally is all a person needs to do. This will give your back time to heal and you can begin your regular routine again. However, resting more than a couple of days can make your back weaker and make you more susceptible to strains and other back problems.

It’s recommended that you see your health care provider for more serious problems that are not getting better with home treatment. They can prescribe you with stronger medications that may work better. Some of these include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotics and muscle relaxants. Any of these should only be taken under the care of your physician.

Physical therapy and regular exercise are often used as treatment for back pain to help strengthen the muscles and to help improve your posture. When you have a serious medical condition cortisone injection or surgery may be needed. Types of surgery include partial removal of the disk or vertebra, fusion and disk replacement.

It’s easier to take care of your back and try to prevent problems whenever possible than it is to heal a back problem. To help prevent back pain exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, use good posture when sitting and standing and lift with caution.

We have a number of additional articles on back pain, including back and leg pain and back pain right side.