Causes And Treatment Options For Common Back Pain
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Back pain is a very common complaint. In fact, as mentioned in a journal released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is the fifth most common reason why people visit their physicians. 9 in 10 individuals suffered from back pain at least once in their lifetimes and every year, 5 in every 10 workers report lower back pain.
More than 30 bones are stacked on top of one another in the spine, linked together by joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Enclosed in the spine is the spinal cord where motor and sensory nerve bundles and fibers arise from. Back pain can occur when any of these structures are torn, misaligned, pinched, sprained or strained.
Lower back pain typically results from bending at the waist when you lift hefty packages or simply from poor body alignment when sitting, standing, walking or sleeping. The root cause of ninety eight percent of back pain is not life-threatening. Just the same, if you do feel these symptoms it would be unwise to ignore it, especially if it's recurring. The remaining 2% accounts for back pain resulting from herniated disc, cancer, and abscess. This further underlines the necessity of seeking medical attention so you would know if the symptoms are truly acute and nonspecific or a symptom of a severe, and potentially debilitating or life-threatening disease. If you experience other symptoms with your back pain like fever, stiffness or loss of function or sensation in your hands and feet, seek medical care ASAP.
The good thing is that lower back pain treatment is relatively conservative. Surgery will only be prescribed as a last resort for chronic back pain and if there is sufficient evidence that not doing so can result to more serious problems. Although lower back pain treatment can also include taking in muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these are rarely prescribed because of their numerous side effects.
Physicians would most likely indicate heat therapy as an initial low back pain treatment. Most sufferers report that moist heat like dipping in a hot bath, works best. Others prefer continuous low-level heat provided by heat wraps that stay warm for four to six hours. Still, a few individuals say that they respond better to cold packs. Acupuncture is known to relieve back pain as well, as is massage therapy.
Exercise, especially yoga, is a mainstay lower back pain treatment as well. Aside from being curative, working out is also preventive as it will strengthen your core and back muscles, and improve your posture as well. You can also prevent back problems by observing proper posture during activities. When lifting an object, keep your feet apart, your back straight, and bend your hips and knees not at the waist. Do not slouch, and use ergonomic furniture if you work long hours in front of the computer as well.
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