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In many cases of back pain, the cause is
really difficult to determine. As your lower back bears most of the
weight and stress of your body, the pain generally comes from the
strained muscles and ligaments caused due to heavy lifting or an awkward
body movement. The obvious cause behind the back pain remains hidden in
most of the cases. However several factors are responsible for
generating new back problems or exacerbating the existing ones. These
are clustered in to five categories:
Arthritis- This refers to the inflammation of the joints or
pain that occurs in the joints. The various forms of arthritis that
can cause back pain are:
1. Osteoarthritis- It is the
most common type of arthritis caused by the breakdown of the joint
cartilage over time. Cartilage cushions the joints but when it
deteriorates bones rub against each other resulting in pain, stiffness
and loss of movement.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis- This is
also marked by inflammation and stiffness of the joints and undergoes
three phases which are inflammation, thickening and joint damage. This
disease results in loss of mobility, weakness and deformity.
Anti-inflammatory medications and active physical and water therapy
are some of the useful treatments for this disease.
3. Ankylosing
Spondylitis- This disease generally attacks the spine area leading
to stiffness of the back. In it the joints and ligaments behind the
movement of back become inflammed resulting in their fusion. It starts
with the initial pain in the sacroiliac joints. Various NSAID'S and
therapies are available for the treatment of this disease.
4. Hip
Osteoarthritis- It refers to the breakdown of cartilage in the hip
joint causing back, hip and leg pain. People with hip arthritis have
limitations in their hip motion. Hip replacement surgery is the
successful treatment for hip osteoarthritis.
5. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm- In case of Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm, abdominal disorders extend and radiate to the back
and are felt as acute low back pain. It is represented by a large
aorta (or a large artery) in the abdomen. In case if the large blood
vessels start leaking then it can cause severe abdomen and back pain.
Large quantity of blood loss will result in hypotension,
unconsciousness or death.
6. Fibromyalgia- is characterized by
musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness in the local areas of the
spine, neck, shoulders and hips known as ''tender points''. These
points hurt when the pressure is applied on them. Middle aged women
are most affected by this disease. The symptoms of this disease
include difficulty in sleeping, feeling tired after sleep, headaches,
numbness in hands and feet and depression. Some of the treatments
available for this disease are injections of lidocaine and massage,
non-narcotic pain medications, low-impact aerobic conditioning and
antidepressants.
7. Osteoporosis- It refers to the skeletal disorder in which the
bones become thin, brittle and more prone to fractures. It commonly
affects women after menopause due to estrogen deficiency leading to
compression fracture of vertebrae which in turn leads to back pain.
Adequate calcium intake and weight bearing exercise prevents
osteoporosis. Back pain is caused if the vertebral body becomes so
weak that it can no longer withstand stress applied to it or if the
patient has minor trauma. Treatments for osteoporosis includes rigid
braces to support the spine, resting. Very rarely surgery is required
for the treatment of this disease.
Some of the other causes of back pain include:
1.Tumors-
Spinal column tumors come from tumors in the breast, kidney, lungs and
thyroid. These tumors produce pain which is worst at night time. Some
metastatic tumors have symptoms like unplanned weight loss, loss of
appetite, nausea and vomiting.
2. Automobile
accidents- Automobile accidents also cause back pain as they make
the body accept large amount of energy in a short period of time
resulting in damaging muscles, ligaments and tendons. Active physical
therapy, over-the-counter and prescription medications are available
for the treatment depending upon the severity of the pain.
3.Back
pain during pregnancy- Most pregnant women experience low back
pain in their third trimester of pregnancy having pain in the
sacroiliac joints. This pain is due to extra weight and hormonal
factors that widen the sacroiliac joints and increase the size of
birth canal.
4.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction- Sacroiliac
joint is one which connects sacrum with the pelvis. Sometimes pain is
felt in these sacroiliac joints due to limitations in its normal
motion patterns. It is more common in young or middle aged women.
Treatments available are physical therapy and exercise, osteopathic
manipulations and injections.
5.Other factors are poor
posture and body mechanics, emotional stress, excessive weight and
obesity, herniated discs, sickle cell anemia, whiplash, cancer pain,
diabetes, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome and age factor.
So, these are some of the most common causes of back pain. If you are
suffering from back pain, you must get your cause known and go for the
suitable treatment in order to get rid of this irritating and painful
disease.
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