Back Pain BlogBack Pain Info Help

Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting about 8 out of 10 people at some point of time in their lives; about 80% of the population develops back problems at some time in their lives. And accounting for more sick leave and disability than any other medical condition. It could be acute, sub acute or chronic depending on the duration. Most cases of back pain especially that in the lower back, are caused by a simple strain on the muscles. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is termed as chronic if it lasts for more than three months.

Causes Of Low Back Pain Include

• Lumbar strain (acute, chronic) - A lumbar strain is a stretch injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the lower back.

• Nerve irritation- The nerves of the lumbar spine could become irriatble due to mechanical impingement or disease.

• Lumbar radiculopathy - Lumbar radiculopathy is a kind of nerve irritation caused by damage of the discs between the vertebrae.

•Bony encroachment- This is a condition that results in movement or growth of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine thereby limiting the space available for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves.

• Bone and joint conditions- Congenital bone conditions, degenerative bone and joint conditions, Arthritis and Injury to the bones and joints may also cause pain in the lower back.

Ways To Prevent Back Pain

One can prevent back pain by standing up straight and minimizing the amount of heavy lifting one does.

• One should push rather than pull, when moving heavy objects.

• Exercising and keeping the back muscles strong is one of the best ways to minimize the risk of back pain. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower back pain.

• Maintaining body weight or shedding those extra pounds is recommended for those who are overweight.

• Maintaining strong bones by making sure to take enough calcium and vitamin D every day is also important.

The treatment for back pain depends on the precise cause. Therefore understanding the cause of the pain is the key to speedy relief. Heating pads can help to relax painful muscular spasms. They should be used for only 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Ice packs and massages may also give relief.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options For The Back

• Acupuncture

• Chiropractic Care

• Epidural Steroid Injections

• Exercise

• Medications

• Physical Therapy

Surgical Treatment Options For The Back

• Minimally Invasive Discectomy

• Minimally Invasive Laminotomy/Discectomy

• Laminectomy

• Spinal Fusion Surgery

Back Pain is the most prominent problem making the patients suffer to a large extent. It can be due to muscular strain, spine arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney diseases, bladder infections, appendicitis, bad posture of walking, standing, or sitting. The pain can range from acute to chronic. Acute back pain lasts for few days whereas chronic back ache results in severe pain lasting for few years. Most of the people in U.S. suffer from acute back pain. When the person is suffering from chronic back pain, the doctor may recommend some kind of shoes which are specially made to provide relief from back pain, also called as orthotic shoes. By wearing these shoes, the results can be relief providing, thus making the patient happy. But, these shoes are very expensive. Therefore, if the person is unable to afford it, they can also wear common shoes with which he can walk properly and that fits well with the feet of the person.

Orthotic shoes are used as the treatment for back pain. These shoes should be selected after considerable thinking by seeing advertisement of different companies. The shoes should fit in length and width comfortably, have extra cushioning, and help in foot positioning properly with great ease. They should not be too loose or too tight into feet. For inward foot roll, the shoes should be rigid, with no heel, and help in stabilizing the foot properly while walking. The person should walk to a good showroom where he meets with educated salesperson, who can show them the right shoes, thus providing them relief. Today, these shoes are available in different styles

But, shoes are not the only method to get relief from Back Pain. To get complete relief – nutritious food, correct posture and back pain exercises are helpful. Stretching, pelvic lift, yoga, bending forward posture etc. are some of the exercises to rectify the problem of back pain.