Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Getting to grips with Low Back Pain

Most people will experience low back pain at some time in their life, and usually it’s more than just once. Pain in the lower back can occur to anyone at any age for a variety of reasons.

* Bulging disc
* Herniated disc
* Osteoporosis
* Arthritis
* Degenerative disc disease
* Pinched nerve

Back pain can also be caused by injuries or effects to the spine. Degenerative disc disease is usually age related. This arises when the soft center of the disk loses moisture and begins to dry out due to the natural aging process. This causes the bones in the spine to become misaligned as the supporting material collapses.

Low back pain can also occur when the muscles or ligaments in the back are injured. The spine itself is not causing the pain, but rather the muscles. Muscle injury can result from daily activities not handled properly. For example, if you lift a heavy object incorrectly, you can strain the muscles. But injury can also occur as a result of something more serious like a car accident or slipping and falling. Sudden falls can cause the spine to compress or the muscles to twist in ways they aren’t meant to twist.

The treatment for low back pain varies according to the cause of the pain. Pain is defined in 3 ways. There’s acute pain which is pain that occurs suddenly, lasts less than approximately three months, and then diminishes as the cause of the pain is healed. For example, you may strain a muscle in your back one day while picking up a heavy box. After a month of hot or cold compresses (depends on type of injury) and careful physical movement, the muscle will heal and the pain goes away. This is acute pain.

Chronic pain is characterised by pain that lasts longer than 3 months. The pain can be present even after all known causes of the pain have been treated or pain you live with due to an uncorrected back problem. Chronic back pain can simply be a miserable experience for the person enduring the pain. The cause of the pain may not be visible to anyone else, like a broken arm or leg, but chronic pain can significantly restrict mobility.

Low back pain can result from a muscle sprain. This condition can be painful, but fortunately the injured muscle usually heals. A sprained low back can emanatefrom muscle spasms or sharp pains when you move a certain way. You can get pain relief most of the time from over the counter anti-inflammatory medications and movement restriction for a few days.

Of course, there can be more serious causes of low back pain. They include osteoporosis, disc disease, arthritis and spinal injuries. If you experience chronic or recurring back pain, you should work with a physician to determine which techniques for healing or pain control best fit your situation.

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To discover everything you need to know about low back pain

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