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There Are A Number Of Common Causes Of Lower Back Pain Including Even Smoking

October 18th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are many people that suffer from lower back pain and it is one of those conditions that anyone can suffer from being especially common to most Americans. It can result in becoming disabled and not being able to perform one’s job related chores, and in fact, is believed to the topmost reason why Americans are becoming disabled at work. In fact, the number of people that cite lower back pain as an excuse to miss work is simply staggering, and it also ranks above the rest as a reason to visit the doctor.

Over Fifty Billion Dollars Is Being Spent Annually On Research To Find The Causes

Today, much research is ongoing on the topic of what the cause of lower back pain really is and there have been spent, it is believed, as many as fifty billion dollars annually and more on finding the cause of lower back pain. No doubt, some of the causes are already to known to mankind; however, much research is still needed to find  the causes that have not yet been ascertained for which diagnosis has yet to be made and which nevertheless is very real and causes patients a great deal of pain.

You will often hear the word lumbago mentioned in the same breath as lower back pain and the two are one and the same. Lower back pain may occur at any time and at any age and there are also common causes of lower back pain, some of which are known and many are yet to be found. Perhaps the leading cause of lower back pain is muscle strain that may occur after lifting a heavy object, or come about because of a quick movement, or even be a result of falling.

Another cause of lower back pain is herniated disc. The spine has discs that act as shock absorbers which will protect the bone as we move about. A disc that slips forward in the lower back can cause a lot of pain in the lower back and may become especially worse after having stood or sat for prolonged periods of time.

Degenerative disc disease is another condition that can be thought of as being a cause of lower back pain, and this condition is a kind of arthritis in which the cartilage between the joints gets broken down and the consequent lack of cartilage will result in lower back pain that is mostly felt in the mornings and in the evening.

Besides these common causes of lower back pain, you may also experience lower back pain because of being obese, being stressed, or due to sleeping on an uncomfortable bed as well as sleeping in a position that can result in lower back pain. Smoking too can cause lower back pain since it reduces the amount of blood flowing to the lower spine and thus results in disc degeneration. Finally, you can also think of little or no regular exercise as being yet another cause of lower back pain.

Surgery For Back Pain Should Be Your Last Recourse

July 31st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Other than a surgical emergency condition, surgery for back pain is usually the last option available to you for finding relief from back pain. It may be suggested by your physician who would recommend such a course of action only when the pain you are feeling is considerable even in spite of non-surgical treatments being used and no relief resulting. It can also be recommended when the cause of your back pain is such that only surgery for back pain can help you get relief.

Proven Herniated Disc

There are certain instances in which surgery for back pain is recommended and one of them is having a proven herniated disc which is causing you quite some pain. To treat your herniated disc would require decompression of the nerve in your back that is causing you pain, and this may require a surgical operation to achieve.

There are other reasons why you would require surgery for back pain and one such is having a traumatic condition such as fracturing your spine as also dislocating it which can only be treated through performing surgery on it. If you have painful spondylolisthesis in which one vertebra slips forward under another one, you may also require going under the scalpel. And finally, if you have a neurologic deficit that is a result of a nerve compression or instability, you may need to undergo surgery for back pain.

Even in spite of these various conditions that may warrant having to undergo surgery for back pain; the good news is that there is only a one percent chance that you would ever need to go under the scalpel for your back pain condition. What will decide whether to have surgery or not is the severity of the pain and whether it is considerably hampering you from performing your day-to-day duties and whether the condition will deteriorate further if left untreated.

There are also many experts who are of the view that in the past too many surgeries for back pain had been performed and that these surgeries did not in fact help the patients and in some cases, even made the condition worse. They are more or less convinced that to really benefit from surgery for back pain, the doctor must select only the individuals that are most suited for such an operation and who would benefit the most from such surgery.

There are a few different types of surgery for back pain such as surgery for disc problems, surgery to stabilize the spine as well as surgery to create more space in the spine. Your doctor would be the best person to specify which the most suitable form of surgery would be for your case.

Recognizing and Treating Thoracic Back Pain

July 27th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

When you think of back pain, the most common type of discomfort that comes to mind is that which stems from the lower part of the back and into the hip area. While this type of back pain is indeed the most frequent complaint in back pain sufferers, thoracic back pain is another sort of discomfort that can be difficult to deal with over the long term. Thoracic back pain refers to the area in the center of the spine. It is made up of twelve vertebrae that run along the middle of the back, where the rib cage attaches. Most of the time, thoracic back pain stems from a strained muscle in the area, but it can also be caused by a herniated or slipped disc. These types of problems can be easily diagnosed through the use of an x-ray, and treatment can be determined by you and your doctor. On the other hand, a pulled or strained muscle in the thoracic area can occur from lifting something that is too heavy or overdoing your exercise program. This type of thoracic back pain will usually respond to a variety of home treatment options.

Hot or Cold?

If you suspect an injury is causing your thoracic back pain, you can try to treat the problem at home by applying hot and cold packs to the area. Alternating the two temperatures will help to reduce inflammation and swelling, and relax the muscles so that they are able to heal properly. Use caution with heating pads or packs so that you do not burn your skin, and never place ice directly on your skin either. You can maximize the effectiveness of this treatment by taking an over the counter pain medication like aspirin or ibuprofen as well. Always follow the dosing instructions on the label of any medication, and do not take for more than a few days before consulting your doctor. These types of medications tend to work best when they are taken according to the dosage allowed, rather than waiting until the pain is intense to begin using them.

Bed Rest?

Most doctors will agree that if you are going to try bed rest for your thoracic back pain, you should limit your time in bed to a day or two. The best position to treat back pain is to lie on your back with your knees and lower legs elevated with pillows, or to lie on your side with a pillow between your legs. More than 24 to 48 hours off of your feet will begin to counteract the benefits of bed rest however, so get up and get active as soon as you feel that you are able. Generally, activity is the best therapy for thoracic back pain. Once you are feeling better, you can begin an exercise program that will gently strengthen your muscles in your back and abdominal area. This will help to ensure that you do not suffer from additional thoracic back pain in the future.

Copyright © 2007 Back Pain-Tips on Pain Relief and Low Back Pain Prevention

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