Back pain is a problem that affects more than 80 percent of all adults at some point in their lifetimes. In Greenbelt, most missed work days are as a result of some form of discomfort in the back. Research has determined that both men and women are affected equally by back pain. The pains range in intensity from dull constant aches to sudden, sharp sensations that render sufferers incapacitated. For the sake of this article, the abbreviation CBP will be used for chronic back pain.
CBP is the pain that one feels for a period of 12 weeks or more even after treatment of underlying injury or cause. More than twenty percent of all people suffering from acute pain in their backs end up developing CBP with persistent symptoms. In most cases, surgical and medical treatment relieves the symptoms and alleviates the discomfort, but in other cases, the problem may persist.
Typically, CBP takes place within the lumbar region in the 5 vertebrae of the lower region of the back. Most of the weight from the upper body is supported by this region. As such, movement results into friction, pressure, and shock to be exerted on vertebrae discs. The shock, pressure, and friction are minimized by the presence of intervertebral discs. Otherwise these forces would cause unacceptable amount of degeneration. The position of the vertebrae is maintained by ligaments. Transmission of signals from the back to the brain occurs through the thirty-one pairs of nerves connecting the two organs.
The main causes of this condition usually have a mechanical element. For example, aging causes natural wear and tear to the spine, which becomes progressively painful. Additional causes for the condition include intervertebral degeneration, radiculopathy, sprains and strains, traumatic injury, skeletal irregularities, sciatica, and herniated or ruptured discs.
In most people, the cause of this problem is sprains and strains. When ligaments of the vertebrae are overstretched, sprains result. Conversely, strains come from tearing of muscles and/or tendons. There are many causes for both strains and sprains including lifting heavy objects and overstretching. The same causes may also cause spasms, which are equally painful.
A condition called radiculopathy results from injury, inflammation, and/or compression of spinal nerve roots. As a result of the pressure exerted, numbness, tingling sensation, or pains are caused and radiated to all other body parts the nerve serves. This pressure comes from ruptured discs or spinal stenosis.
Ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the back region may be injured by such events as car accidents, falls, and sports. Traumatic injury may also compress the spine excessively resulting into the rupture of intervertebral disc. Herniated discs in turn exert pressure onto nerve roots and cause pains. Skeletal irregularities include scoliosis, lordosis, and other congenital anomalies. Scoliosis is a curvature within the spine that does not cause a problem until one attains middle age.
CBP may also be caused by serious underlying medical conditions although this occurs rarely. Several medical conditions may cause the problem. Major ones are infections, tumors, cauda equine syndrome, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and kidney stones. Osteoporosis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory diseases of the joints predispose people to CBP.
CBP is the pain that one feels for a period of 12 weeks or more even after treatment of underlying injury or cause. More than twenty percent of all people suffering from acute pain in their backs end up developing CBP with persistent symptoms. In most cases, surgical and medical treatment relieves the symptoms and alleviates the discomfort, but in other cases, the problem may persist.
Typically, CBP takes place within the lumbar region in the 5 vertebrae of the lower region of the back. Most of the weight from the upper body is supported by this region. As such, movement results into friction, pressure, and shock to be exerted on vertebrae discs. The shock, pressure, and friction are minimized by the presence of intervertebral discs. Otherwise these forces would cause unacceptable amount of degeneration. The position of the vertebrae is maintained by ligaments. Transmission of signals from the back to the brain occurs through the thirty-one pairs of nerves connecting the two organs.
The main causes of this condition usually have a mechanical element. For example, aging causes natural wear and tear to the spine, which becomes progressively painful. Additional causes for the condition include intervertebral degeneration, radiculopathy, sprains and strains, traumatic injury, skeletal irregularities, sciatica, and herniated or ruptured discs.
In most people, the cause of this problem is sprains and strains. When ligaments of the vertebrae are overstretched, sprains result. Conversely, strains come from tearing of muscles and/or tendons. There are many causes for both strains and sprains including lifting heavy objects and overstretching. The same causes may also cause spasms, which are equally painful.
A condition called radiculopathy results from injury, inflammation, and/or compression of spinal nerve roots. As a result of the pressure exerted, numbness, tingling sensation, or pains are caused and radiated to all other body parts the nerve serves. This pressure comes from ruptured discs or spinal stenosis.
Ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the back region may be injured by such events as car accidents, falls, and sports. Traumatic injury may also compress the spine excessively resulting into the rupture of intervertebral disc. Herniated discs in turn exert pressure onto nerve roots and cause pains. Skeletal irregularities include scoliosis, lordosis, and other congenital anomalies. Scoliosis is a curvature within the spine that does not cause a problem until one attains middle age.
CBP may also be caused by serious underlying medical conditions although this occurs rarely. Several medical conditions may cause the problem. Major ones are infections, tumors, cauda equine syndrome, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and kidney stones. Osteoporosis, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and inflammatory diseases of the joints predispose people to CBP.
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You can find details about different chronic back pain treatment options and more info about a well-respected doctor at http://www.metropain.org now.
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