Back pain (also known as dorsalgia) is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
Causes
Muscle Strains are the most common cause of back pain is minor muscle if strains, 75% of sufferers tend to recover within the week, 90% within the month.
Herniated disk a ruptured intervertebral disc is another one of the most common causes of back pain. Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae. In between, they are soft discs filled with a jelly-like substance. These discs cushion the vertebrae and keep them in place. A herniated disc is a disk that slips out of place or ruptures. If it presses on a nerve, it can cause back pain or sciatica. Throughout life discs age. This is a natural process starting in the early twenties. The rate that discs age is variable and is often dependent upon inherited factors, previous injury, labouring or heavy occupations and smoking. As a disc ages, the thick outer wall (the annular fibrosis) starts to split and tear. The wall then becomes weaker and a series of events may eventually rupture it completely. This final event can be as minor as coughing or sneezing but is often related to some form of lifting accident. When the outer wall has been torn the softer nucleus pulposus can be squeezed through the tear in it.
Symptoms
Back pain that spreads to the buttocks and legs, when the herniated disc is in your lower back
Neck pain that spreads to the shoulders and upper arms, when the herniated disc is in your upper back
Tingling or numbness
Muscle spasms or weakness
Herniated Disc can also be called: Bulging disc, compressed disc, Herniated intervertebral disc, Herniated nucleus pulposus, Prolapsed disc, Ruptured disc, Slipped disc
Spinal Stenosis – Your spine, or backbone, protects your spinal cord and allows you to stand and bend. Spinal stenosis causes narrowing in your spine. The narrowing can occur at the centre of your spine, in the canals branching off your spine and/or between the vertebrae, the bones of the spine. The narrowing puts pressure on your nerves and spinal cord and can cause pain.
Spinal stenosis occurs mostly in people older than 50. Younger people with a spine injury or a narrow spinal canal are also at risk. Diseases such as arthritis and scoliosis can cause spinal stenosis, too. Symptoms might appear gradually or not at all. They include pain in your neck or back, numbness, weakness or pain in your arms or legs, and foot problems.
About 80 percent of the world’s residents suffer from lower back pain at one time or another. Unlike popular belief an athletic lifestyle offers no warranty against the problem. Weight training or sporting activities
technically actually increases the load on one’s back and may cause pain. In fact, lower back pain is a common ailment among weight lifters, runners, cyclists, and other athletes.
Supplements that may help
phenylalanine
Bromelain Anecdotal reports suggested that its anti-inflammatory action may contribute to reduced pain and swelling, and/or faster healing in people with a variety of back conditions.
Calcium and Magnesium important for joints and bone health
Cat’s Claw may act as an anti-inflammatory easing pain and discomfort
Turmeric a herb known traditionally for its anti-inflammatory effects, a possible advantage for people suffering from low back pain.
B Complex may help to relieve stress in back muscles and reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medication
Vitamin C collagen holds tissues together
Rosemary and Juniper Essential Oils anecdotal evidence suggests they may help with pain due to anti-inflammatory action
Eucalyptus and Peppermint Essential Oils the combination of both applied directly to a painful area may help by decreasing pain and increase blood flow to afflicted regions.
Recommended lifestyle changes
Take care of your back General recommendations for people recuperating from low back pain include wearing low-heeled comfortable shoes, sitting in chairs with good lower back support, using work surfaces that are a comfortable height, resting one foot on a low stool if standing for long periods, and supporting the low back during long periods of driving
Quit smoking Some research indicates that smoking may contribute to low back pain. One study involving people with herniated discs found that both current and ex-smokers are at much higher risk of developing disc disease than non-smokers. Other research reveals 18% greater disc degeneration in the lower spines of smokers compared with non-smokers. Smoking is reported to cause malnutrition of spinal discs, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to mechanical stress
Some things to consider
You might want to consider seeing a chiropractor a qualified practitioner may be able to help correct spinal problem’s that contribute back pain and disability.
