If you're anything like me you have probably suffered with back pain in some form or another. The amount of time taken off work for back pain is quite staggering, but because of its nature can not always be proven and is in some cases used as an excuse rather than a fact. So why do our backs cause us so much problem?
The Spine’s Structure
The human spine is a combination of vertebra (disks), ligaments, muscles, connective tissue, tendons, spinal cord and nerves as explained in detail by the Cleveland Clinic. All the parts of the spine, allow us as humans to stand in an upright position. In this upright position all the elements of the spine join together to apply tension. If you can imagine this as a piece of rope, which if pulled in a downward motion will become taught, this is how the spine responds to a person when standing up. The alterations help the bodies mobility; as well as ascertains how the body reacts to movement.
The lower back is made up of large-scale structure of bones. These include the spine and hip joints. The Sacrum, triangular in shape and part of the pelvis, is the key bone here. The the hip joints connect to the pelvis and in turn the sacrum links all the elements to the spinal column. The lower back makes up the larger structure of bones and joints with the joints being at the hips.
The larger bones attach at the legs. This provides us with the support and strength to hold up the vertical spinal column. The bones thicken at the opposite sides of the spinal cord. This is the nerve tissue that runs through the centre of the vertebra and continues up to the neck and connecting at the base of the brain and is described as 'thick and whitish' The spine itself is made up of individual vertebra, cushioned with cartilage, which over time wares and can fuse together, which in itself can cause severe back pain.
Movement
Strong muscles surround the spine and these can be pulled and twisted; another cause of back pain. The movement of walking puts additional stress on the spinal column, especially in the lumbar region (lower back). When we pick things up it is the lumber region that takes the strain. An example of this would be if your were to pick up a load weighing 2000 pound, you would apply the same amount of stress to your lower back as you would to sit down on a chair. The lumbar spinal disk is affected by brute stress because every time we bend or sit, we apply more than 500 pounds to the area.
At the top region of the back, we have muscles as well, which are shorter and help us to manoeuvre the arms, as well as the cranium. Now, if you consider these elements, you may wonder how it can cause back pain. The fact is when pulling up a tight pair of trousers it can generate unusual tension. This tension affects the lower and upper back, which in turn can cause pain to arise. The reason is that the higher muscles cannot counteract for the pressure taking place at the lower region.
So overall you can see why it is very easy to end up with long term back pain. But should we have to suffer for the rest of our lives with something that is very difficult to prove really exists.
Doctors and Diagnosis
Although back pain is common, as explained at NHS Choices Back Pain, many doctors fail to find the cause and miss areas of concern that could effect a cure. The reason for this failure is that most medical doctors have little or no experience in the art of healing. The process seems to follow and focus on prescribing medication which masks the symptoms but in no way addresses the cause. This is often because of a lack of educational knowledge of the spinal column and central nervous system. They also fail to recognise that a major cause of back pain is the misalignment of the vertebrae in the spine. Of course this isn't the only reason for back pain, sitting too long with a lack of stretching exercises and disease can also be a major cause of lower back pain.
MRI or CT scans can be used to diagnose the cause of back pain. Also the use of X-rays will show up back conditions. Doctors however are inclined to review all areas except the possibility of a misalignment of the spine. Therefore the X-ray will often only confirm what the doctor is expecting to see. The only way forward for an exact diagnosis would be to see a professional, specialising in back condition, such as an osteopath or chiropractor.
Sciatica
One of the most distressing types of back pain is sciatica as explained in NHS Choices-Sciatica. The back problem has been misdiagnosed as a slipped disk by doctors. The diagnosis is difficult as the pain is sharp, electrical shock like and very distressing. The pain usually starts in the back and then travels to the legs. The pain can be intermittent or chronic. Sciatica in extreme cases may need surgery to rectify. According to some experts Sciatica is one of the worst backaches to endure, as even when the pain is classed as mild, it can be difficult to bend forward to tie shoelaces for example. The reason for this is because the problem rests in the spine, joints, and connective elements of the spinal column that links to the entire body.
Conclusion
Whatever the reason for your back pain, it can be extremely painful and debilitating. In some cases it can completely take over and ruin your life. Having been a back pain sufferer in my late teens and early twenties due to a bad fall, I know exactly what this is like. But I was fortunate enough to find an excellent osteopath who solved most of the problem and I lead a perfectly normal life with an occasional relapse. Had I have relied on medical doctors, who knows where I would be now.
The correct diagnosis and treatment of back pain is of paramount importance, there is another way and the sooner the medical profession realise this, the less of a drain on ever diminishing funds the back pain sufferer will be.
Sources
NHS Choices – Back Pain
Cleveland Clinic – The Spines Structure
NHS Choices – Sciatica
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