Need To Cure Back Pain?
December 27th, 2007 Posted by: The Doc
Back pain (also known “dorsalgia”) is pain felt in the back that may originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine. Back pain in individuals with medical conditions that put them at high risk for a spinal fracture, such as osteoporosis or multiple myeloma, warrants prompt medical attention. Back pain from osteoporosis is most commonly related to compression fractures of the vertebra.
The Spine
Your spine is a very strong part of your body and is not easily damaged. It is a complex structure consisting of 24 small bones (vertebrae),shock absorbing discs (intervertebral discs) that cushion the bones and allow the spine to bend, ligaments to hold vertebrae and discs together, tendons to connect muscles to vertebrae, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.
Weight:
If you are overweight, exercise will help you to lose weight, which will reduce the strain on your back. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine, which can hinder the healing process. The weight gain often associated with smoking cessation can often contribute to back pain. In a recent review of medical literature published by the Department of Veteran Affairs Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, a relationship between increases in body weight and low back pain, along with osteoarthritis and other painful conditions was found.
Problems During Pregnancy:
Potential causes of back pain or discomfort during pregnancy include hormone changes. Hormones released during pregnancy allow ligaments in the pelvic area to soften and the joints to become looser in preparation for the birthing process of your baby; this shift in joints and loosening of ligaments may affect the support your back normally experiences.
Pain Relief:
Topically applied lidocaine patches (Lidoderm 5% patch) have provided a reduction in pain intensity and pain relief in clinical trials of patients with acute pain. In a small percentage of cases, having a surgeon remove the part of the disc or bone that is irritating a nerve may provide relief. Spinal cord stimulators can help some patients who gain no relief from surgery.
Treatments:
Treatment of ongoing back problems must be directed at the cause. Your doctor might recommend medications or suggest you try complementary and alternative medical treatments, such as manipulation of the spine, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (mild electrical pulses), acupuncture (thin needles used for pain relief) and acupressure (pressure applied to certain places in the body).
Therapy:
Massage therapy, especially from an experienced therapist, may help. Body Awareness Therapy such as the Feldenkrais Method has been studied in relation to Fibromyalgia and chronic pain and studies have indicated positive effects. In one study, chiropractic manipulation was found to relieve back pain better than a sham therapy in which therapists only imitated chiropractic manipulation.
Exercise:
Many people find relief from back pain through stretching exercises or alternative therapies like yoga, but chronic back pain may require medication and more intensive treatment. Evidence suggests that the best way to prevent bouts of back pain is simply to keep active, and to exercise regularly.
