If you are suffering from back pain you are not alone; back pain is so common, its almost an accepted way of life and most of us will get it at some time. Back pain often occurs in the lower back as not only does this part of the spine support the full mass of the upper body, but it is also bent, twisted and flexed more than the rest of the back.. But with the right approach, basic back pain can be relieved or avoided all together.
What Causes Back Pain?
The spine is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae separated by shock absorbing discs of a soft jelly like substance. These shock absorbing discs are made up of a nucleus held inside a tough, elastic and fibrous outer casing called the annulus. This structure is then supported by the muscles of the back. For many people the back pain they feel is caused by minor injury such as strains rather than 'serious damage' but although the commencement of back pain may be swift the causes may have been developing for some time. Unfortunately back pain caused by ligament or muscle damage in the lower back is often difficult for doctors to accurately diagnose, which is why it is often called 'non-specific low back pain'. Some causes of back pain are serious such as prolapsed discs and diseases of the spine, so if your pain has lasted longer than 48 hours, is increasing or there are other symptoms such as pain down the leg, pins and needles or numbness, you should consult your Doctor without delay. The most common cause of back pain is muscle tension and spasm. This can be brought on by slouching when sitting, hunching when driving, poor posture when standing, lifting heavy objects badly, poorly supportive beds, being unfit, or generally overdoing it. Reports suggest that there is a correlation between the increasingly sedentary lives we lead and the back pain from which many of us suffer. Our lifestyles often mean large amounts of time in static positions. For example did you know that during an average day in an office, you can spend anything from 25 to 40 hours a week in a fixed position working in front of a computer. The average worker will then spend further time travelling to and from work which will probably involve being in a static position on a train, bus or car. At home exhausted from a day in the rat race we slump in a chair to relax. If you want to avoid back pain it is important to keep it moving and to support it properly when you are not. So if you are already plagued by back pain and your GP is unable to help what can you do? Manipulation, exercise, TENS, heat treatment are various approaches
