Nothing
disrupts an otherwise productive day like persistent back pain. Even mundane
tasks — sitting at your desk, getting groceries, playing with your dog — become
difficult. The small area aching dully casts a huge shadow over your daily
life. About 16 million American adults have to limit their activities because
of persistent or chronic back pain.
This health
issue is so prevalent that medical care costs amount to over $12 billion per
year, including treatments, disability payments, and missed workdays.
The medical costs per person vary, though, as back pain can have several causes. Our back pain management studio in California has encountered some aches that stem from fatigue, while others signal a possibly serious condition. Here are six common reasons you experience back pain.
Your
Back Is Strained or Tense
You’d think
that lifting something won’t cause problems, but it is, in fact, one of the
most common causes of back pain. If your lifting form is incorrect the work won’t
be distributed among the muscles properly. Some muscles would work harder than
they should, causing said muscle strain. It, in turn, leads to the pain.
You
Have Bad Posture
Hunching while
sitting or standing causes the back muscles to strain and eventually become
painful. The blood supply is reduced and the muscles experience stiffness and
weakness. Moreover, bad posture places too much load on the lower spinal discs,
which can lead to disc herniation
(more on this later).
Your
Nerves Are Pinched
When the nerves
in the spinal cord are impinged or irritated, it sends pain signals to the
brain, causing the discomfort and aches.
A common
culprit is the herniation of the disc
between the bones in the lower back. As the spinal discs grow thinner (due to
age), the jelly-like part of the disc bulges out and pushes against a nerve. Another
possible reason is cervical spondylosis,
where the discs shrink and pinch the nerves in the spinal cord.
Your physician
can determine if the pain you experience is due to a disruption to the spinal
nerves.
You
Have Musculoskeletal Problems
If some bones
and muscle groups don’t function properly, the spinal cord and peripheral
nerves may be affected.
Take Myofascial Pain Syndrome, for instance.
It’s a chronic pain disorder where pressure on sensitive points in the muscles
causes pain and tenderness. In many cases, the pain radiates from a peripheral
nerve. Your back pain could also be due to Fibromyalgia, a condition that
causes widespread chronic pain and tenderness.
Infections of
the spine may also cause your back pain, but these cases are uncommon.
You
Sustained Injuries in an Accident
If you experience
back pain after a car accident or a fall, the trauma may have caused physical
problems in your back muscles and spine. You could also sustain injuries from
sports that caused back pain.
The sudden acute
trauma that the spinal discs or back muscles sustain causes both dull and sharp
pain in the lower back. Your physician can find out the root of the problem and
recommend the appropriate treatment.
You
Have an Inflamed Spine or Nerves
Back pain can be
attributed to simple causes like heavy lifting or bad posture. It can also be a
sign of serious conditions like Ankylosing
Spondylitis (the inflammation of the spinal joints, causing pain and stiffness in the
spine). It often starts with lower back pain, which then spreads to the entire
body.
There can be a
lot of reasons behind your back pain, but one thing’s for sure — it can limit
your movement and stop you from making the most of your daily routine. So,
Stretch Spot will help you cope with back pain and restore your vigor to live.
Get in touch today.