Eating for two

Reasons Why You May Be Suffering From Back Pain

16 May 2017

Louis Stone

Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments that adults will develop at one time or another. The severity of this back pain can range from mildly uncomfortable to excruciatingly debilitating, depending on how serious the underlying causes are. What most people do not realise is that this back pain can be self-inflicted due to personal lifestyle choices. Luckily, this also means that you could prevent it if you know what to be wary of. So, what are some of the different reasons why you may be suffering from back pain?

Excessive straining

As you age, gradual musculoskeletal wear and tear makes it easy for you to strain your back. These strains will come about when you're carrying out mundane day-to-day tasks such as lifting heavy boxes, lifting weights in the gym and so on. These strains will typically be accompanied by spasms, which would be indicative that you have pulled a muscle. Back strains can be extremely painful and usually require bed rest for the individual to recover. It is important to lift heavy items with proper posture if you would like to prevent back strains. The right way to carry out any heavy lifting would be to bend at your knees when picking the load, rather than bending at your back. Moreover, it is recommended to steer clear from engaging in routine heavy lifting, as this will gradually cause a strain on your back.

Disc herniation

Your spine is made up of individual vertebra that are separated by discs. Over time, some of these discs may start to develop damage on their outer surface. Continual degeneration eventually causes the tissue inside the disc to slip out and apply pressure onto your spinal nerves. When this happens, you will experience sharp pain that will radiate from your back all the way down to your legs. The pain associated with disc herniation is medically referred to as radiculopathy. Unfortunately, disc degeneration is something that slowly happens as you age. Thus, there is no way of preventing it.

However, you can slow down the process by ensuring you do not engage in habits that would accelerate disc herniation. One of the culprits of accelerated disc degeneration is smoking. If your back pain has developed due to disc generation, there are some treatment options you could pursue. Physical therapy is one of the popular ways to manage disc herniation. You could also opt for surgery depending on the severity of the herniation.

Contact a doctor to learn more about your back pain treatment options.

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