Pinpointing The Source Of Back Pain

The human back is an amazing system of muscles, bones, discs, nerves, and ligaments. If it wasn't for the back and the central nervous system, motion would not be possible. Many people experience back pain throughout the world, and it is a troublesome symptom as it can be caused by many different problems. In this article, we'll give you a basic idea of what can go wrong with the back muscles so that you can better diagnose where your problem lies.

First, you're going to need to consider where the pain is occurring in your back. There are four different regions of the back: the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, the lumbar spine, and the sacral region. The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae that are present within the neck and the head. Below the cervical spine is the thoracic spine which is made up of twelve vertebrae. It is attached to the rib cage, and it provides protection for the internal organs such as the heart and lungs. The lumbar spine is comprised of five vertebrae in the lower back, and it works to carry much of the weight of the upper body. Below the lumbar spine is the sacral region, which runs from the lower back to the tailbone.

If you're feeling pain in your cervical spine region, more than likely, the pain can be attributed to a strain. The muscles, ligaments, and tendons present in this area may become strained due to sudden force that may be caused by something like a car accident or a fall. These types of injuries usually heal over a period of a few weeks with rest. If the problem persists for longer than two weeks, you should speak to a doctor to ensure that you haven't herniated a disc.

Pain that is present within the thoracic region is very uncommon. Since this part of the back is not designed for motion, injuries to it are usually rare. If you're feeling pain in this area, it may be due to irritation of the muscles that are present in the upper back or the shoulders. Joint dysfunction can also lead to pain in this area.

Pain occurring in the lumbar region is the most common. Since this part of the back is designed to be as flexible as possible while it has to carry the weight of the upper body, problems with it occur often. Pain and numbness can occur in this area, and it is more often than not due to a muscle strain. These problems can heal relatively quickly, but herniated discs are another problem that may be responsible for the pain.

The sacral region is fused together pretty well, so injuries to it rarely occur. However, there is a condition that is known as coccydynia which may occur in the region.

Now that you know more about the types of pain that you can experience in the areas of the back, you can better determine exactly where the source of your problem is coming from. If you are experiencing intense, prolonged pain, be sure to visit a doctor.