The most common cause of back pain is an injury to a muscle (strain) or a ligament (sprain). These injuries can occur for many reasons, including improper lifting, excess body weight and poor posture. Strains and sprains can also develop from carrying a heavy handbag or sleeping at an awkward angle. As a pivot point for turning at the waist, the lower back is especially vulnerable to muscle strains
Sometimes muscle and ligament injury can result in immediate back pain. In other cases, the discomfort such a soreness and stiffness occur later. A muscle might knot up spontaneously when you reach for something on a high shelf. This muscle spasm is actually your body's way of immobilizing the affected area to prevent further damage to the muscles.
Problems with bones, muscle and nerves may result in back pain. Below are different kinds of structural problems of the spine that are known to cause discomfort and may affect your mobility.
Discs act as cushions between your bones in your spine. Over time, normal wear and tear can cause the outer fibers of the spinal disc weaken and stretch allowing its jelly-like center the to bulge outward. A disc bulge can progress into a more serious problem called a herniated disc. A herniated disc is often caused by injury or trauma to the spine. Most patients who have bulging discs do not experience pain unless the disc becomes herniated or protrudes into a nerve.
If a bulging or herniated disk compresses the sciatic nerve, it can result in sciatica, or the severe pain which is felt through the buttock and back of the leg. Sciatica is not a disorder, but a symptom of problems affecting the nerve. In severe cases, sciatica can make walking very difficult. Sometimes the symptoms are aggravated by certain movements such as walking or bending at the waist, but it is relieved by lying down.
The joints of the lower back are among the joints of your body that are commonly affected by osteoarthritis. Spinal arthritis causes stiffness and pain in the lower back. The stiffness may be worse in the morning. Often the pain lessens with rest or, for some, after exercise. Sometimes arthritis in the spine leads to spinal stenosis, a condition which causes a narrowing of the space around your spinal cord.
The normal spine curves in and out between the neck and lower back. You may suffer from back pain, if your spine curves in an abnormal way, such irregularities may produce strain on the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments in your back. These skeletal irregularities include scoliosis, a curving of the spine to the side; kyphosis, severe curvature of the upper back is severely rounded and lordosis, an excessive inward curve.
In osteoporosis, the bones become porous and brittle, this may cause compression fracture of the bones that make up your spine. Osteoporosis usually affects all the bones of the body, causing many orthopedic problems as well as generalized discomfort.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is part of the natural process of aging. As we age, our intervertebral discs lose flexibility, elasticity, as well as shock absorbing properties. The ligaments that surround the disc become brittle and more prone to injury. At the same time, the gel-like center of the disc, starts to dry out and shrink. People with DDD may experience chronic low back pain which sometimes radiates to the hips, or pain in the buttocks while walking. The pain may be felt or may increase with movements such as sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. Discomfort may also arise from the upper spine, with pain radiating to the radiating to the shoulders, arms and hands.
Some diseases that affect the internal organs may also cause back pain. These diseases include: pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and presence of kidney stones. In women, some problems in the reproductive tract may cause referred back pain. These include: dysmenorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease and some cancers.
Postural stress is a very common cause of low back pain. The discomfort is frequently brought on by sitting, standing or lying for prolonged periods in a poor position, bending in a bad position and heavy lifting. Of all the postural stresses, the poor sitting position is the one frequently at fault. Once low back problems start, a poor sitting posture may worsen those problems. Several back treatments can help improve posture and alleviate back pain related to poor posture.
Although back pain can affect anyone, there are certain risk factors that are known to increase one's risk of developing this problem.
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Back Pain Prevention
Many doctors can help you with your back pain. You may get advice from your primary doctor and also from specialists such as rehabilitation physicians and neurologists. Aside from drug treatment, they may recommend physical therapy or chiropractic sessions. While we can turn to the health care team for advice and treatment, we should should keep in mind that the we ourselves can significantly influence the success of back pain treatment.
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Treatment and prevention of back pain are not limited to trips to doctors' offices physical therapy sessions. There are a number of simple yet effective ways that can help you in taking care of your back. You can prevent back pain by taking steps to improve your physical condition and using body mechanics. These solutions include exercise, stretching, yoga and other body methods such as Egoscue method of physical movement.
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Back Pain and Regular Exercise
Sedentary lifestyle contributes to lower back pain. Many back problems are caused by weak and unused muscles. You need to keep your back in shape by doing regular exercises that can promote strength and endurance in your back and allow your muscles to work better. Choose exercises that won't cause strain on your back. You may benefit from low impact aerobic activities such as swimming and walking.
Abdominal and back muscle exercises are also recommended. These exercises strengthen and condition the muscles that support your spine. Exercising these important muscles gives your support system a boost, allowing it to ward off many causes of pain. You can do these exercises at home, and they do not require special exercise equipment. Remember to check with your doctor before you start an exercise program.
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Back Pain and Massage
Massage can help relieve both acute and more chronic back pain. Back pain from muscle strain may even be treated by massage therapy. Although massage is strongly associated with complimentary therapies, its now being accepted by healthcare providers as an effective method that can help fight back pain.
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Maintain a healthy weight
Being overweight greatly contributes to symptoms that occur with many conditions of the spine. The spine is designed to bear your weight and distribute the load while you are resting or moving. When the spine carries excess weight, it has no choice but to take up the burden, later on, this can lead to structural damage. If you are overweight, you should seek your doctor's advice for a healthy weight loss.
Stop smoking
Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of back problems. Spine researchers theorized that smoking reduces oxygen levels in the spinal tissues, and this can hinder the recovery from back surgery or from other conditions that affect the spine.
Use of proper body mechanics
Postural stress is the most common cause of low back problems. Postural causes of low back pain include: prolonged sitting in a poor position, bending in bad working positions, as well as standing or lying for a long time in a poor position. Below are ways to avoid postural strain on your back.
Adopt a good sitting posture
People who often sit for prolonged periods are likely to adopt a poor posture. Keeping a slouched sitting posture long enough will cause over-stretching of ligaments. Once a poor sitting posture has become a habit, the joints and discs in your spine may suffer, causing movements and certain position to produce pain. To prevent those problems, you need to pay attention on your posture.
You can prevent back pain by adopting a good sitting posture and choosing a seat which has a good lower back support, arm rests and a swivel base. You can use a lumbar roll, a pillow that are designed to provide comfort and relief from low back pain. Place the pillow in the small of your back to maintain your spine's normal curve while sitting. Consider placing a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips at same level.
Regular breaks from prolonged sitting
Almost everyone will notice some stiffness or discomfort after an uninterrupted car ride or a long flight. If you already have back problems, traveling for long distances will likely cause you back aches. People whose jobs involves long hours of sitting are likely to experience same problems. To lower your risk for discomfort, you should interrupt sitting at regular intervals, before you notice the pain. Take a break from sitting by standing up and bending backwards 5 or 6 times and then walk for a few minutes. Interrupting sitting regularly will reduce the pressure in the discs and ease the stress on the surrounding tissues.
Correct lifting technique
When lifting, can avoid back pains an injuries by letting the bigger muscles, such as you legs and thighs, to do the work. Before you start to lift the object, you should stand close to it and have a firm footing Lifting should be done by straightening the legs, you must attempt to retain the hollow of your back throughout the lift. Refrain from using the back as a crane to lift heavy objects. Keep it straight and bend only at the knees. Once you're upright, shift your feet to turn and avoid twisting your lower back. If possible, find a find a lifting partner, if the object is too heavy.
A multitude of medications are available for the treatment of back pain. Generally, choosing which medication to use depends on whether your pain is muscle and bone pain, nerve pain, or a combination of both.
Muscle and Bone Pain
There are different classes of drugs that your doctor may prescribe to relieve symptoms of muscle and bone pain. These include:
Nerve Pain (Neuropathic)
Nerve pain may result from an injury to a muscle, soft tissue, bones, joints, skin, or other organs. This type of pain is managed by medications that are not originally labeled as pain relievers, but have properties they may help in managing pain. These drugs are called adjuvant analgesics, they help the body reprogram the messages involved in transmitting pain signals: Adjuvants are a diverse group of drugs that include:
Back pain affects almost everyone at some stage of their active adult life. It is one of the most frequent reasons for going to the doctor or missing work. Because it affects many people, some tend to think that back pain is simply a part of daily life. It's been estimated that about 60 to 80 percent of North Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.
Back pain may originate from structures that form the spine such as bones, joints and ligaments, the muscles and tendons that support the back, nerves that exit your back bone, or even from some internal organs. Some practitioners maintain that emotions are held in the back along the spine as well meaning that heightened emotions (like depression, stress and anxiety) can also physiologically manifest in the back as pain.
The discomfort caused by back problems varies in severity. Some people may have mild pains, but for others, it can be potentially debilitating, making it difficult to carry out many everyday activities. Back pain can last for a few days, but may also be long lasting in some cases.
Chronic back pain and depression
Most backache starts from a physical source. However, for many people who have been suffering from chronic pain, the problem may not be limited to their muscles, nerves and bones. Medical professionals have long been aware that people who have been living with chronic pain especially of the back are at risk of depression. Among all the mental conditions, it's depression that frequently occurs with chronic back pain.
Signs and Symptoms
Treatments
If you're suffering from chronic back pain, your doctor may consider tests to determine the underlying problem. At the same time, your doctor will evaluate your mental state.
You may be prescribed an antidepressant that also produces pain relief. Other helpful methods that for both chronic back pain and depression can include massage, hypnotherapy and some exercises. Massage can promote relaxation and may reduce stress, thereby lowering a risk factor of developing depression, and also help ease the tension in muscles that contribute to pain levels. Hypnotherapy may help you gain some control over your feelings and pain levels. It can also improve concentration and memory. Exercise may reduce the discomfort caused by certain types of back problems. Going out to exercise with a group allows social interaction. In addition, when you engage in outdoor exercises, the sunshine and fresh air may also lift your mood.
You can manage mobility issues by breaking down your tasks into more manageable jobs that should be completed in a sensible time frame. By doing this, you're able to maintain your independence.
Your treatment for back pain may include psychological treatments which can help you cope with depression.
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Chronic back pain and depression
Most backache starts from a physical source. However, for many people who have been suffering from chronic pain, the problem may not be limited to their muscles, nerves and bones. Medical professionals have long been aware that people who have been living with chronic pain especially of the back are at risk of depression. Among all the mental conditions, it's depression that frequently occurs with chronic back pain.
Signs and Symptoms
Treatments
If you're suffering from chronic back pain, your doctor may consider tests to determine the underlying problem. At the same time, your doctor will evaluate your mental state.
You may be prescribed an antidepressant that also produces pain relief. Other helpful methods that for both chronic back pain and depression can include massage, hypnotherapy and some exercises. Massage can promote relaxation and may reduce stress, thereby lowering a risk factor of developing depression, and also help ease the tension in muscles that contribute to pain levels. Hypnotherapy may help you gain some control over your feelings and pain levels. It can also improve concentration and memory. Exercise may reduce the discomfort caused by certain types of back problems. Going out to exercise with a group allows social interaction. In addition, when you engage in outdoor exercises, the sunshine and fresh air may also lift your mood.
You can manage mobility issues by breaking down your tasks into more manageable jobs that should be completed in a sensible time frame. By doing this, you're able to maintain your independence.
Your treatment for back pain may include psychological treatments which can help you cope with depression.
More on Depression
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This type of back pain is usually caused by accidents, injury, heavy lifting, or sudden movements that misalign the spine or surrounding tissues. Acute back pain may also occur when in sustained periods of high stress accompanied by muscle tension. It flares up without warning. The back pain is either piercing or dull, and it may last for three to six months or less.
Chronic back pains last for at least a few months and do not respond quickly to treatment. People with chronic back pain may complain of deep ache which is not usually sharp and occurring in one part of the back and and may extend to the legs.
Chronic back pain develops over time, it may result from poor posture, having excess body weight, aging, and long-standing stress on the musculoskeletal system. In some people, the cause of chronic back pain is unknown.
Back pain is often the reason for activity limitation among adults below 45 years. Although most individuals recover from within three to six days of injury, statistics estimate that $31 million is spent on visits to doctors for back pain.
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Tizanidine promotes back pain relief by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. It is also to used treat muscle stiffness or rigidness by temporarily relaxing the muscle tone. Tizanidine is available in tablets 2 and mg tablets and in gel cap form in of 2mg, 4 mg, and 6mg doses.
Uses
Tizanidine is used for treating the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by many medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spastic diplegia, back pain, or certain other injuries to the spine or central nervous system.
Side effects
The following side effects may occur with tizanidine use:
drowsiness or dizziness;
feeling anxious
numbness or tingling;
vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea, constipation,
fever;
dry mouth;
muscle weakness, back pain;
increased muscle tone or spasms; or
sweating or skin rashes
You should seek emergency care if you notice any of these signs of an allergic reaction such as hives; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop any of these serious side effects:
slow heart rate;
feeling light-headed or fainting,
unusual thoughts or behavioral changes
nausea, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, yellowish skin discoloration
burning or pain when urinating
