Back Pain Overview

Dorsalgia or back pain is referred to as pain in the back and has its origin in nerves, bones, joints and other associated structures in spine. In a study conducted in the United States, it was found that lower back pain is a common reason behind a trip to the physician. Back pain is usually divided into following categories: pain in the neck, pain in upper back, pain in lower back and tailbone pain. Back pain affects young and old alike, though reasons might vary in both.

Lack of physical activity, changing lifestyle, including sitting for long hours in front of computer are cited as the prime reasons for back pain. Though back pain is found across geographic boundaries and countries, developed countries like the US have a large population affected with some variant of back pain. Back pain can be a serious health concern, as it affects daily life of the person with impunity. Besides restricting the movement of the person, back pain causes mental and physical pain, as work schedule of the person is affected adversely.

Common causes of back pain are lumbar muscle strain, ruptured disk, discogenic back pain, spinal stenosis and lumbar spine arthritis. Out of the causes listed above, lumbar muscle strain is the most common cause of back pain. Back pain can have varied symptoms. Some of the common back pain symptoms are that one may feel back pain during normal activities as walking, bending and running. A sharp pain in the back after sitting in one posture for long is another common symptom of back pain.

Numbness or weakness in the legs with pain radiating down from legs can also be associated with back pain. Some people may feel pain in the back while coughing or sneezing. This can also be associated with back pain. Adopting proper body posture is the key to prevent back pain. Exercise regularly as this helps in losing any excess weight that one might have gained. Wear flat heeled shoes as stress on the feet gets reduced with the former, thereby minimizing back pain. Visiting the doctor might help as the doctor will ask questions relating to lifestyle, work schedule and will suggest physiotherapy exercises and medicines that will calm your senses and help relieve back pain.

A range of medications are available that offer solace to those suffering from back pain. Ibuprofen, ketocid, synflex and orudis are some of the common medications that can be taken on recommendation of a registered medical practitioner. A range of physical exercises and chiropractic techniques are available to cure back pain. During chiropractic treatment, the joints of the body including the spine are worked upon, thereby providing relief to the patient.

Alternative therapies are highly recommended to cure back pain as some of the medicines might have side effects. Back pain gets better with time as the person works upon the exercises suggested by the medical practitioner. However, constant motivation is required on the part of the family, thereby bringing the person back to a normal life schedule.