Back Pain

Lower back pain causes are often due to relatively common, simple conditions. However, it is important to understand the causes and symptoms of lower back pain in order to prevent more serious conditions from occurring.

First, overuse may be the culprit. Repetitive lifting of heavy objects or exercising too much can often lead to strained muscles in the lower back. In addition, poor posture or obesity, especially large belly, can also place added weight and pressure on the lower back.

More serious causes of lower back pain can also be related to aging and wear and tear. Arthritis is one cause of pain in the lower back. Sadly this is common and can be treated if precautions can be taken. This condition occurs when the joints in the back become worn and inflamed. Wear and tear can often cause the discs of cartilage between the vertebrae to become thin, causing pain during movement. The cushion becomes not only thinner but also firmer as it loses elasticity. Also, with age, osteoporosis can occur and causes severe lower back pain.

Another lower back pain cause is a herniated disc. When a disc becomes herniated, part of it begins to bulge and then rupture allowing the inner elastic gel / sinovial fluid to come out of the disc. This alone can be very painful. However, this situation can also cause a nerve in the spinal column to become pinched, causing pain and weakness to occur not only in the back, but also throughout the legs and as far as the toes.

In most cases, lower back pain causes can be attributed to a strained muscle. In such instances, lower back pain can be relieved by conservative means. Rest is the most important initial treatment method, since it will limit the amount of additional and unnecessary weight and stress placed on the strained area. In addition, ice packs followed by heat pads are a good way to minimize pain and also reduce tension from a tight muscle. Physical therapy is also an option, because it is a good way to reduce pain in the lower back as well as an opportunity to learn the exercises and stretches necessary to not only relieve pain but also to add strength to your back. If pain persists after conservative treatment, it is important to consult your physician about other treatment options.

Massage Therapy can be very helpful for those who want back pain relief. Massage is the first type of therapy that we normally think of to provide comfort when there is back pain. There are numerous experts in massage therapy who have learned how to help take away acute or chronic back pain.

Another option for back pain relief is taking advantage of chiropractic or spinal manipulation. The main purpose of chiropractic is to remove nerve interference. More and more people go to chiropractors because osteophatic or spinal manipulation has proven to be effective for decreasing some people's back pain.

Furthermore, Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese way of healing, is another type of back pain relief treatment that has been effective. Needles are inserted to unblock the energy pathways of the body which causes the pain. It is believed that acupuncture is able to release natural pain-relieving opiates which automatically send signals to the sympathetic nervous system to calm it.

Trans cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is also used to treat lower back pain. TENS is done by the application of an electrical current through a person's skin to reduce or to control pain. This method is non-invasive and has proven to be safe for pain relief.