Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most frequent health issues among the people 8 out of the 10. It is the third most common reason to visits the doctor’s office in the US and Indians also living in similar circumstances.

The pain will be mild to medium, constant, sometime it will be sharp and sudden lasts for days to weeks. usually, back pain goes away its own, if it is not as such then need extra care to get relieved from it.

Only 5% of the cases required surgery and rest will be cured with medication or change in lifestyle. Back pain due to spine disorders and injuries are far less when compare to other causes. People will experience back pain at some point of time in their life time.

If back pain is sudden, last for a few days then it can be treated as acute and pain lasts for more than 3 months is considered chronic.

Below are the top reasons for back pain:

1. Poor Posture and Lifestyle
2. Weak Spine
3. Body Imbalance
4. Back Injuries
5. Back Disorders and Medical Conditions

Poor Posture and Lifestyle

The human spine is a complicated structure of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks all these together help us to move around. Specialty in the human spine is its perpendicular to the ground. The good posture can help the spine to ensure all the parts in right place any disturbance in the structure of the spine leads to back pain.

Ensure you are sitting in good posture while working at desk or driving, do not bring your back close to inclining shape. Invest on proper sitting conditions. Do not work in same position for longer periods, take short breaks and walk in and around.

Smoking may affect blood circulation to your spine results back pain and excessive consumption of alcohol further worsen your back pain.

Your feelings will play a major role on your back functionality. Do not be stressed or anxiety will bring your body into muscle tension including spine area.

Over workouts or irregular workouts at the gym, extended body stretches, not having proper body rest and sleeping on a mattress that does not support the body and keep the spine straight.

Weak Spine

Your back should be strong enough to carry out your regular job else you can experience back pain, it does not mean you have blessed with a weak spine. It is your responsibility to keep doing exercise or yoga regularly to maintain your body and mind in a strength. The brisk walk makes your spine strong and also it is simple. And continue doing related exercises or yoga.

Body Imbalance

The back may get pressurized with overweight of the body, better maintain the height to weight ratio it helps your overall body functionality. Being overweight and sedentary leads to low back pain. Your belly fat also one of the cause for body imbalance. Wearing high heels and pregnancy in women imbalances the body.

Back Injuries

While lifting heavy stuff ensure that, it is distributed to your legs instead of the back. You can lift the weight what your body supports, any excess weight lift or pull may lead to spine structural problems.

Back injuries are the most common cause of back pain. Injuries frequently occur when you use your back muscles in activities that you do not do very often, such as lifting a heavy object or doing yard work.

Minor injuries also may occur from tripping, falling a short distance, or excessive twisting of the spine. For more info on back injuries..

Back Disorders or Medical Conditions

 Numerous conditions can affect the spine from neck to low back.

• Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a condition that occurs when the bundle of nerves below the end of the spinal cord known as the cauda equina is damaged. Signs and symptoms include low back pain, pain that radiates down the leg, numbness around the anus, and loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Cancer: A tumour on the spine may press against a nerve, resulting in back pain.
• Infection: Spine infection may result in a fever and a tender, warm area on the back.
• Other infections: Pelvic inflammatory disease, bladder, or kidney infections may also led to back pain.
• Sleep disorders: Sleep disorders are more likely to experience back pain, compared with others.
• Osteoarthritis: (also known as OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middle-age to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as “wear and tear” of the joints, but we now know that OA is a disease of the entire joint, involving the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone.
• Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints

Care or Treatment

• Spinal Manipulation: Some doctors use this approach to treat lower back pain by applying pressure with hands-on bones and tissues. It is not suitable for everyone.
• Massage Therapy: It may relieve your chronic low back pain, especially combined with exercise and stretches.
• Acupuncture: It has a mixed response and some people got relieved from short term back pain.
• Medications and Injections: consuming pills and if not cured injections to the back.
• Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can guide you through stretches, strength exercises, and low-impact cardio that will help you be fitter without straining your back
• Surgery: If long-lasting back pain is interfering with your daily life, and other treatments have not provided relief, you may be a candidate for surgery.

Last year in India started creating a large database on back pain patients which help doctors to find out the root cause for the back pain by tracing with other patients data which involves advanced data algorithms.