What Everybody Should Know... About How To Cure Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain is not a diagnosis -- it's a symptom of an underlying condition. Back pain is a common problem often caused by overusing or misusing the muscles of the back. Back pain can be a sign of a serious medical problem, although this is not most frequently the underlying cause. Typical warning signs of a potentially life-threatening problem are bowel and/or bladder incontinence or progressive weakness in the legs.

The Spine

The bones of the spine are connected to one another by the discs at the front and by the facet joints at the back. The discs help to absorb the normal loads on the spine and, with the facet joints, give the spinal column its flexibility. The nerves of the spinal cord, which connect the brain to the rest of the body, run down a hollow channel in the spine (the spinal canal). Many muscle groups which are responsible for flexing, extending, and rotating the waist, as well as moving the lower extremities, attach to the lumbar spine through tendon insertions. The aorta and blood vessels that transport blood to and from the lower extremities pass in front of the lumbar spine into the abdomen and pelvis. The skin over the lumbar area is supplied by nerves that come from the roots of the lumbar spine.

Weight:

If you are overweight, exercise will help you to lose weight, which will reduce the strain on your back. Smoking reduces blood flow to the lower spine, which can hinder the healing process. The weight gain often associated with smoking cessation can often contribute to back pain. In a recent review of medical literature published by the Department of Veteran Affairs Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, a relationship between increases in body weight and low back pain, along with osteoarthritis and other painful conditions was found.

During Pregnancy:

During pregnancy your center of gravity will gradually move forward as your uterus and baby grow, which causes your posture to change. Your developing pregnancy and baby create additional weight that your back must support. Stress usually finds the weak spot in the body, and because of the changes in your pelvic area, you may experience an increase in back pain during stressful periods of your pregnancy.

Pain Relief:

Inversion therapy is useful for temporary back relief due to the traction method or spreading of the back vertebrae through (in this case) gravity. The best position for relief when your back hurts is to lie on your back on the floor with pillows under your knees, with your hips and knees bent and your feet on a chair, or just with your hips and knees bent.

Treatment:

Most individuals recover completely by simply avoiding strain to their spine. Back pain lasts just as long if you go to a chiropractor, if you go to a physical therapist or if you seek no treatment at all. But treatment of some type - either chiropractic or conventional - might make you more comfortable as you wait for your back to heal. Manipulation Osteopathy and chiropractic are treatments involving manipulation of the spine. Surgery is reserved for situations in which other treatments don't work.

Therapy Solutions:

Massage therapy, especially from an experienced therapist, may help. Body Awareness Therapy such as the Feldenkrais Method has been studied in relation to Fibromyalgia and chronic pain and studies have indicated positive effects. In one study, chiropractic manipulation was found to relieve back pain better than a sham therapy in which therapists only imitated chiropractic manipulation.

Exercise Solutions:

Many people find relief from back pain through stretching exercises or alternative therapies like yoga, but chronic back pain may require medication and more intensive treatment. Evidence suggests that the best way to prevent bouts of back pain is simply to keep active, and to exercise regularly.

Article Source: http://www.articleselections.com

Another in the 'By The Doc' series - an authoritative guide to the causes and remedies of Back Pain. Learn how to avoid Back Pain, its causes and the available remedies. Always seek advice from a qualified medical practitioner.

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