Back Pain

If you are suffering from back pain it is important to stay as mobile & active as possible to aid recovery. Light exercise (under supervision) can also help but staying in bed or inactive actually does more harm than good.

In addition to the sensation of pain you may also suffer - swelling/ inflammation on the back; pain below the knees, pain which moves up your back or to your chest; down your legs; problems passing urine or loss of bowel control; numbness around the buttocks, genitals or anus.

Chronic Pain is the term used to described pain which has built up over 12 weeks & is causing longer-term problems. Due to the complex nature of  a spines design small amounts of damage to any part of the spine can cause a significant amount of discomfort or pain.

Ligaments hold your vertebrae & discs together & your tendons tie your muscles to the vertebrae. The ligaments are strong bands of tissue, which help guide your spines movement's preventing it from over extending or causing a movement, which could be damaging. Ligaments are not particularly flexible & can be easily overstretched.

The lower section of your back is known as the lumbar region and comprises five vertebrae, which are known as L1, L2, L3, L4 & L5.

Aside from these everyday day causes of back pain some other less common sources could be as a result of bone disorders (osteoporosis), viral infection, lack of exercise; stress; kidney/ bladder infections; heavy impact (falling etc.).

Extreme back pain can result from having a slipped disc, which is when you rupture one, or more of the intervertebral discs resulting in the nucleus pulposus (a jelly like substance) applying pressure to the nerves or spinal cord. The resulting pain will usually be located around the lower back & may manifest itself via the sciatic nerve down the leg/s; thighs, feet; toes as a numbing pain or pins & needles. The sciatic nerves are the main nerves that run down your legs & you have one in each leg.

Another root cause of back pain may be simple wear & tear of your bones. As you get older your spine & discs can dehydrate (dry out) & when this happens they lose their ability to protect & cushion each other from pressure or impacts. As time goes by the bones may develop spurs (bumps) that can cause pain by pressing on nerves, which results in back pain. This natural wear & tear is known as osteoarthritis.

Describing your symptoms & undergoing a physical examination with your doctor/ therapist will be sufficient to reach a diagnosis. More often than not X rays are not required for back pain, as they won't display the cause. However if your back pain is chronic & has lasted for 12 weeks or more then a CAT scan - which can display a detailed picture of your soft tissue rather than bones - may be able to pin point problem more effectively than an X ray.

Your therapist/ doctor may suggest - excess body weight (obesity) is one factor; provide exercises to strengthen your back; suggest improving your chairs/ bed/ mattress; taking regular exercise e.g. yoga, swimming, walking etc. You may also be taught how to correctly bend down/ lift objects limiting the pressure on your spine. 

In the short term you may consider seeing a qualified osteopath; chiropractor or physiotherapist. In the longer term the Alexander Technique can improve posture & muscle strength & Yoga & Pilates are also proven to be useful in strengthening your back & supporting muscles.

• Back care
• Back Pain
• Lower Back Pain
• Chronic Pain
• Chronic Back Pain
• Back Ache
• Lumbar Pain
• Lumbago
• Pain
• Slipped Disc
• Disc Problems
• Sciatica