Chronic Back Pain | Chronic Low Back Pain | Causes Lower Back Pain – Backache is a pain. It affects nearly everyone and disrupts work, lifestyle, sleep and play. This malady ranks only behind the common cold for missed work, frequent doctor visits and prescription medications. The lucky patients are those with only an occasional bout with acute backache. Unfortunately, a segment of sufferers progress to chronic back pain, which is defined by duration beyond three months.
Recently, archaeologists discovered ancient bones that tell us 500,000 years ago, man suffered from back pain, exhibited by the remains of the spine of a 45 year old caveman. Chronic Back Pain. This puts a chink in the theory regarding modern sedentary lifestyles versus the physical prowess of our hunter/gatherer ancestors and relativity to spinal health.
The spine is column comprised of bones and ligaments operating as a network that forms the skeleton, from neck to pelvis. Strength and flexibility provides the structural support of the body and affords protection for the spinal cord. Chronic Back Pain. The cord transmits signals responsible for movement and sensation. The spine is built to support movement and our body weight. When injured, it can become a source of painful disability.
Most short-term backache stems from mechanical cause in the form of trauma or arthritis. Weekend warriors, gardening or car accidents account for stress inflicted on bones and tissues connected to the spine. Chronic Back Pain. These injuries tax the musculature and ligaments in the back causing discomfort from sprains, strains, spasming or herniated discs. Symptoms can range from simple muscle ache to limited range of motion or affected stance. Acute problematic symptoms should be investigated and treated, when indicated, to avoid progression to more serious possibilities.
The end-result of sprains and fractures range from acute to chronic agony. Sprains are ligament tears acquired with twisting or incorrect form when lifting. Chronic Back Pain. Fractures can occur in sports injuries, vehicular accidents or serious falls, often in the presence of osteoporosis.
Predisposing medical conditions increase the likelihood of backache. Scoliosis is a congenital curvature of the spine that can exhibit pain at middle-age or earlier, depending on the degree of severity. Chronic Back Pain. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and fibromyalgia are recognized medically as conditions that are notorious for debilitating discomfort and/or deformity. Vertebral osteoporosis cause a chronic, aching spine aggravated by activity, rendering older patients vulnerable to spontaneous fractures, disability and death.
Low back symptoms, usually caused by muscle strain or nerve irritation, is the most commonly recurrent form of backache in the 30 to 50 year old population. Sciatica refers to radiated pain down into a leg and often accompanies lumbosacral sprains. Chronic Back Pain. Factors such as obesity, smoking (linked to degenerative disc disease), stress, pregnancy, poor posture and sleeping positions contribute to lumbar misery. Aging brings decreased bone strength, less muscle resilience and a reduction in the fluidity of discs with decreased vertebral cushioning.
Chronic back pain affects the lives of 80% of the population. The causative blame for the problem stems from muscle spasm, nerve root irritation, fracture or a combination of these mechanisms. With myriad possibilities for cause and effect, occasionally carrying the danger of serious consequences, sufferers need to contact their physician without delay to prevent permanent damage. Comprehensive diagnostics, medication options, physical therapies or injections allows patients to live life fully. Chronic Back Pain.