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BACK PAIN MANCHESTER | BACK PAIN SALFORD

SALFORD CHIROPRACTOR NOW TREATING BACK PAIN IN SALFORD/MANCHESTER

BACK PAIN

This news article is courtesy of the NHS website

Introduction

Back pain is a common condition and, in the UK, it is the largest cause of work-related absence. Back pain can be very uncomfortable, but it is not usually serious.

Back pain can affect anyone, regardless of age, but it is more common in people who are between 35-55 years of age.

In the majority of cases, the cause of back pain can be linked to the way that the bones, muscles, and ligaments in the back, work together.
The structure of the back

The back is a complex structure consisting of:

* 24 small bones (vertebrae), that support the weight of the body above and form a protective canal for the spinal cord,
* shock absorbing discs (intervertebral discs) that cushion the bones and allow the spine to bend,
* ligaments that hold the vertebrae and discs together,
* tendons to connect muscles to vertebrae,
* a spinal cord which carries nerve signals from the brain to the rest of the body,
* nerves, and
* muscles.

The lower back (lumbar region)

The lower part of your back is known as the lumbar region. The lumbar region:

* is made up of five vertebrae, which are known as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5,
* supports the entire weight of your upper body (plus any extra weight that you are carrying), and
* is under constant pressure, particularly when your are bending, twisting, and lifting.

Lower back pain

Lower back pain, also known as lumbago, affects 7 out of 10 people at some time in their lives. Lower back pain is a pain, or ache, on your back, in between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your legs.

Lower back pain can come on suddenly, or gradually, and is sometimes the direct result of a fall, or injury. The complex structure of your lower back means that even small amounts of damage to any part of the lumbar region can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.

Pain in your lower back is usually a symptom of stress, or damage, to your ligaments, muscles, tendons, or discs. In some cases, if a nerve in your back is pinched, or irritated, the pain can spread to your buttocks and thighs. This is known as sciatica.

See the 'related articles' section for more information about sciatica.
Back pain can be mild or severe

In most cases of back pain, your back will heal itself, and staying active and continuing with your usual activities will normally promote healing. Back pain will usually last from a few days, to a few weeks. However, back pain that lasts longer usually clears up after about six weeks.

However, in severe and persistent cases of back pain, it is important to seek medical advice so that a correct diagnosis can be reached and appropriate treatment given. Treatment for back pain will usually depend on the underlying cause of the condition. For example, back pain that is caused by certain types of arthritis may be treated using specific medicines.

Back pain
Symptoms

The main symptom of lower back pain is a pain, or ache, anywhere on your back, in between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your legs.

The majority of cases of back pain usually clear up quite quickly. However, if you are at all worried, or concerned, about your back pain, you should seek medical advice.
When to seek medical advice

You should visit your GP as soon as possible if you begin to experience back pain plus any of the following symptoms:

* a fever - a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above,
* weight loss,
* inflammation, or swelling, on your back,
* constant back pain that does not ease after lying down, or resting,
* pain that travels to your chest, or pain that is high up in your back,
* pain down your legs and below your knees,
* loss of bowel control,
* loss of bladder control,
* unable to pass urine,
* numbness around the genitals, buttocks, or anus (back passage), or
* if you have had a recent trauma or injury, to your back.

It is important to see your GP if you have symptoms such as these because it may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, such as a spinal infection.

It is also recommended that you seek medical advice if you are experiencing back pain and:

* you are under 20 years of age, or over 55 years of age,
* you have taken steroids for a few months,
* you use illegal drugs,
* you have cancer, or you have had it previously, or
* you have a low immune system as a result of chemotherapy, or another medical condition, such as HIV, or AIDS.

You should also ask your GP for advice if your back pain has developed gradually and has got increasingly worse over several days, or weeks.

Back pain
Causes

Most cases of lower back pain are known as 'non-specific' because they are not caused by serious damage, or disease, but by sprains, muscle strains, minor injuries, or a pinched, or irritated, nerve.
Triggers of back pain

Back pain can also be triggered by everyday activities at home, or work, and by poor posture. For example back pain may be triggered by:

* bending awkwardly,
* lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling, incorrectly,
* slouching in chairs,
* standing, or bending down, for long periods,
* twisting,
* coughing,
* sneezing,
* muscle tension,
* over-stretching,
* driving in hunched positions, or
* driving for long periods without taking a break.

Sometimes, you may wake up with back pain and have no idea what has caused it.
Common causes

Some common causes of back pain include:

* pregnancy,
* gynaecological problems in women, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
* different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis,
* stress related tension,
* viral infections,
* bone disorders,
* bladder and kidney infections,
* osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones),
* a trip, or fall,
* a trauma, or injury, such as a fracture,
* lack of exercise,
* obesity, and
* sleep disorders.

Serious back pain

The bulging, or rupture, of one, or more, of the intervertebral discs can sometimes cause serious back pain. This results in the inner jelly-like material (nucleus pulposus) pressing on the spinal cord, or nerve roots, which run next to the disc. This is commonly known as a 'slipped disc', but is more accurately described as a 'prolapsed' (bulging), or 'herniated' (ruptured) disc.

The pain will usually be in your lower back, but you may also experience pain in you buttocks, thigh, calves, feet, and toes, due to irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs down both legs. Occasionally, the pain is also accompanied by pins and needles, numbness, and weakness.

Intervertebral discs tend to dry out, and weaken, with age, or following an injury. This results in the discs becoming less flexible, which means that they do not cushion the vertebrae as well as they did before. This is a common cause of stiffness and pain, particularly in the elderly. It also tends to be worse early in the morning.

Persistent lower back pain can also be caused by a number of rare conditions, such as:

* congenital (inherited) spinal defects,
* bone diseases,
* shingles (an infection that affects the nerves),
* fibromyalgia, prostatitis (a condition that cause musculoskeletal pain), or
* cancer that has spread to the spine.