Back pain is widely considered as the second most prevalent complaint that people have, surpassed only by headache. In fact, as mentioned in a journal released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is the fifth most common reason why people visit their physicians. Ninety percent of adults experience back pain at least once in their lives and at least half of people in the working population complain of lower back pain each year.
More than 30 bones are stacked on top of one another in the spine, linked together by joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Enclosed in the spine is the spinal cord where motor and sensory nerve bundles and fibers arise from. Back pain is the body's way of telling you that there is an imbalance in the musculature supporting the spine, overstretched ligaments or tendons, nerves that are compressed or any other mechanism that disrupts the normal functioning of those aforementioned structures.
Back pain, especially in the lumbar area, usually occurs because of wrong body mechanics while lifting heavy objects and from bad posture. The root cause of ninety eight percent of back pain is not life-threatening. Just the same, if you do feel these symptoms it would be unwise to ignore it, especially if it's recurring. The remaining 2% accounts for back pain resulting from herniated disc, cancer, and abscess. This in mind, it is important to have your back pain evaluated just the same to rule out whether you are not suffering from any serious medical condition. If you experience other symptoms with your back pain like fever, stiffness or loss of function or sensation in your hands and feet, seek medical care ASAP.
Fortunately, lower back pain treatment rarely requires surgical intervention. Surgery will only be prescribed as a last resort for chronic back pain and if there is sufficient evidence that not doing so can result to more serious problems. Although lower back pain treatment can also include taking in muscle relaxants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these are rarely prescribed because of their numerous side effects.
Physicians would most likely indicate heat therapy as an initial low back pain treatment. Most sufferers report that moist heat like dipping in a hot bath, works best. Some individuals have a preference for low-level heat application through warmed towels. Still, a few individuals say that they respond better to cold packs. Acupuncture and massage are also popular treatments for back pain.
Exercise, yoga in particular, is an effective lower back pain treatment. Aside from being curative, working out is also preventive as it will strengthen your core and back muscles, and improve your posture as well. You can also prevent back problems by observing proper posture during activities. When lifting an object, keep your feet apart, your back straight, and bend your hips and knees not at the waist. Do not slouch, and use ergonomic furniture if you work long hours in front of the computer as well.
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