Back Pain Basics Liverpool
Back pain can affect your everyday life and it is important to know what is causing your back pain and how you should respond to the pain. Keep reading to find out potential causes, and what you should do if you are experiencing back pain.
There is some evidence that back pain has a genetic component associated with it. This genetic susceptibility can be the cause of many issues that can result in back pain including weaker muscles and bones of the back as well as postural problems.
Having large breasts can cause back pain as larger breasts put pressure on the upper and mid back. This can cause fatigued muscles and the development of abnormal kyphosis (curve) of the upper and mid back. This can result in changes to the shape of the spine over time and can also create poor posture which all result in pain.
High heels and ill-fitting shoes can contribute to back pain as they change the shape of the feet, whlch can cause muscular; postural and gait changes that can place the spine out of alignment and put pressure on the back resulting in pain.
Stress is a major contributor to many health problems including back pain. When we are under a lot of stress the body releases stress hormones into the body whlch can have an adverse effect. In terms of back pain these stress hormones can cause muscles to tighten which reduces blood flow and therefore provison of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in that area and the result is spasm and a build up of waste products and eventually muscle pain and weakness.
The surgical options are spine decompression when nerves are involved, and for mechanical back pain, spinal fusion with bone grafting, spine stabilisation without fusion or disc replacement.
The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders.
Pain from scoliosis in adults can be axial back pain or nerve pain from neurological compression. The pain usually becomes worse in the standing or sitting position but is relieved by lying. In the case of nerve pain, this is why MRI should be interpreted with great caution as it is taken lying down.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of chronic arthritis which affects the joints, tissues, bones and ligaments of the spine. It is an autoimmune disorder which affects both women and men, although it is five times more common in men. Its onset usually occurs between the ages of 15 and 35 and, although there is no known cause, it appears to have a genetic element to it.
Having large breasts can cause back pain as larger breasts put pressure on the upper and mid back. This can cause fatigued muscles and the development of abnormal kyphosis (curve) of the upper and mid back. This can result in changes to the shape of the spine over time and can also create poor posture which all result in pain.
There is some evidence that back pain has a genetic component associated with it. This genetic susceptibility can be the cause of many issues that can result in back pain including weaker muscles and bones of the back as well as postural problems.
High heels and ill-fitting shoes can contribute to back pain as they change the shape of the feet, whlch can cause muscular; postural and gait changes that can place the spine out of alignment and put pressure on the back resulting in pain.
Pacing is simply performing tasks/activities in a manageable way – not doing them all at once. It is also learning to move about before your back pain discourages you from moving. Equally, it is also useful to know when to stop before your back pain may begin. In short, pacing is ‘taking a break before you need it.’
Stress is a major contributor to many health problems including back pain. When we are under a lot of stress the body releases stress hormones into the body whlch can have an adverse effect. In terms of back pain these stress hormones can cause muscles to tighten which reduces blood flow and therefore provison of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in that area and the result is spasm and a build up of waste products and eventually muscle pain and weakness.
Most of us at least have an idea of the importance of movement in our lives. Some of us choose to move as little as possible, save for the odd walk to the corner shop (when the car has broken down), some of us choose to move in moderation (how boring, but intelligent), and some of us choose to move so much that we end up wearing our joints out.
Let’s start from the beginning. You wake up one morning with bad pain in your lower back: it is hard getting out of bed, and especially hard to put your underwear on. What goes through your mind?
The problem of back pain is one which affects over 20 million people in the UK each year. One of the major obstacles in the effective treatment and management of back pain is the difficulty in accurately diagnosing its cause. It can either be caused by a mechanical factor such as a muscle injury or by a neuropathic problem. Neuropathic pain is caused by physiological changes in or damage to the nerves of the central and peripheral nervous system.
The surgical options are spine decompression when nerves are involved, and for mechanical back pain, spinal fusion with bone grafting, spine stabilisation without fusion or disc replacement.
Manipulation, mobilisation and massage are types of manual therapy that can also be provided by chiropractors and physiotherapists. For this reason, people often talk about ‘manual therapy’, irrespective if this is provided by chiropractors, osteopaths or physiotherapists.
The researchers (some in white coats) and labs are definitely still around, but nowadays back pain research is much more a collaboration between researchers, clinicians and patients. Read more about how patients, researchers and clinicians can work together in researching back pain.
Intervertebral discs change with advancing age and this is often called disc degeneration. Intervertebral discs are pads of gristle-like cartilage located between the vertebrae that allow small movements between the bones. They ensure that the vertebrae can move easily without the spine losing structural stability.
Back pain can be caused by a range of underlying conditions, disorders or diseases and there is no doubt that in these cases back pain is indeed a serious and painful condition.
I know it sounds obvious, but many of us don’t do this. Before you go, make sure you check that travel is safe for your back, with your doctor, osteopath, or other healthcare provider. You never know, they might also give you some helpful suggestions as to how to keep yourself pain free during your stay in the Bahamas.
