Low back pain or pain in the lower back is a very common
ailment in America, effecting up to ninety percent of Americans at some point
during their lives. Up to 50% of the people who experience back pain will have
more than one incident. Pain in lower back is not a specific disease; rather it
could be a symptom of various different processes. In about 85% of the people
who experience pain in their lower backs, no specific cause of the pain could be
diagnosed even after a thorough examination. America approximately spends $50
billion annually on lower back pain.
There can be a number of underlying reasons for this ailment
but more often than not, no specific reason can be found and the pain eventually
stops.
·
Pain in lower back is second only to the common
cold as a reason for employee absenteeism. It is also one of the major reasons
why people visit the Emergency room in extreme cases or a doctor’s office for
milder ones. It is also the second most common neurological complaint in the US,
seconded only by headaches.
·
For ninety percent of the people, even those who
experience irritation in their nerve roots, experience an improvement in their
within two months regardless of the medical treatment used or even if no
treatment is done.
·
If back pain stays for less than a month then
doctors refer to it as acute and chronic if it lasts for a longer period of
time.
Causes
The back is a complex structure and it includes joints,
nerves, muscles, and bones. This is one of the reasons why sometimes it is difficult
to pinpoint the exact reason of the pain.
In most cases back pain does not occur due to some serious
disease or damage but by irritated or pinched nerves, minor injuries, minor strains
or sprains. Pain in the back can also be triggered by regular everyday
activities at work and home, or it can grow overtime due to bad lifting, standing
or prolonged sitting. Some other causes of back pain are:- Excessive use of muscles, generally due to repetitive movements or sports
- Driving for a very long period without a break or keeping your back hunched while driving
- Over stretching
- Twisting
- Slouching
- Pulling incorrectly, pushing, carrying or lifting
- Bending in an awkward position for a long time
Sometimes pain in the back can also develop suddenly for no
obvious reason. Some people might just wake up one morning with it without any
idea as to what caused it.
Risk Factors
Following are some of the factors that might increase chances
of developing a back ache:
·
Depression – pain in the back can make people
feel fairly depressed making them gain weight. This eventually leads to an increase
in pain and more depression.
·
Stress – it is believed that stress causes tension
in the muscles of the back which can lead to pain.
Using medication that can weaken the bones if
used for a prolonged period of time.
·
Pregnancy – the extra weight the woman carries
around can place additional strain on her back thus causing back pain.
·
Smoking – smoking damages tissues of the back
which might cause severe back pain. Moreover it can also be caused by the fact
that smokers generally have an unhealthier lifestyle as compared to non-smokers
which might increase the symptoms.
·
Overweight – all the extra weight that fat
people carry around their weight can put extra pressure on the back and spine. People
should calculate their BMI in order to find out whether or not they should lose
weight.
In a number of cases back pain can be caused due to serious
medical conditions. But more often than not it is the lifestyle of an average
American that is the reason of back pain.
For more information on Dr. Joseph Mills, visit: www.westhillspaincenter.com or call: 631-659-2980
For more information on Dr. Joseph Mills, visit: www.westhillspaincenter.com or call: 631-659-2980
References
Shaw, T. Causes of
back pain. Retrieved from <http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Back-pain/Pages/Causes.aspx>
Shiel, W. C. Jr. M.D, FACP, FACR. Low back pain. Retrieved from <http://www.onhealth.com/back_pain_health/article.htm>
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