Back Pain -- We Just Hate It

The back functions in nearly every move you make, this is what makes back pain so uncomfortable. Nearly everyone will suffer at least one attack of back pain in his or her lifetime, because of this it is important that people have knowledge about the possible back conditions there are.

Your back is full of muscles, ligaments and bones, which supports your upper body. If you lift heavy items or make sudden, awkward movements you are likely to sprain a muscle in your back that can be very painful. The area of the back which is most likely to cause a problem is the lower back, which carries a lot more pressure and is a lot less sturdy than the upper back.

Spraining a muscle or ligament requires rest and pain relief medication; your body will repair itself over time, although this can take weeks rather than days.

There are more serious conditions that can cause back pain, like the following

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal due to bone overgrowth or arthritis; this can press on a nerve causing a lot of pain. If it is not found early enough it could eventually affect the spinal cord itself causing more dangerous problems.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is a condition where one vertebrae slips forward over another one causing considerable pain. It can be dangerous for the vertebrae to slip forward because it can cause problems with the spinal cord and reduce the strength of the back.

Sciatica

Sciatica is caused from a herniated disc pressing on the sciatic nerve causing shooting pains through the buttocks to one or both of the legs. This condition doesn't always give constant pain as it depends on the reason why the nerve has become pressured.

Trauma

Should a person suffer an accident that causes trauma to the back, it may damage the muscles, ligaments or spinal column, which can cause excruciating pain. With trauma the damage can vary quite dramatically, because of this so does the treatments involved.

There are more rare and dangerous back conditions; these conditions carry more specific treatment.

Cancer of the Spine

Cancer in the spine produces a tumor that can press on nerves around the spinal canal causing considerable pain. Because cancer is debilitating on it's own it can cause considerable problems for the sufferer.

Spine Infection

If a spine becomes infected then back pain and warmth in the infected area will occur. Infection, depending on the type can easily be remedied.

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a neurological condition that causes pain in the back, weakness in the legs and loss of bowel and bladder control. As Cauda Equina Syndrome is a neurological condition rather than a physical problem it takes different treatments to alleviate than the other conditions.

The treatments available are very effective at combating back problems but the treatments for more dangerous conditions are not guaranteed to work because if they are not found in time, they may be in a more progressive form, rendering treatment ineffective.