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.
Pain is classified as CBP if it persists for over three months even after receiving treatment for the underlying cause such as injury or medical condition. Over twenty percent of all acute back pain cases end up developing into CBP with persisting symptoms. CBP can be alleviated through surgical and medical means, but not in all cases because the problem may persist even after that.
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.
Sprains and strains are the main cause of this medical condition in most people. Sprains occur when the ligaments in the vertebrae are overstretched or torn. On the other hand, strains are caused by tearing of muscles or tendons. Both strains and sprains may be caused by overstretching, lifting or twisting something improperly, or lifting too much weight. Spasms may also be triggered by such events, causing a lot of pain.
When the spinal nerve root is injured, inflamed and/or compressed, it causes a condition called radiculopathy. The exertion of pressure onto nerve roots causes numbness, pains, or tingling sensation, which radiates to other regions of the body that are served by the nerve. The pressure may result from herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Sports, car accidents, and falls may injure muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the back, causing CBP. Intervertebral discs are usually herniated or ruptured as a result of excessive compression caused by traumatic injury. Nerve roots are in turn pressured by herniated discs, resulting into pain. Irregularities in the skeleton include congenital anomalies such as scoliosis and lordosis. Scoliosis only manifests in middle aged people. It is caused by presence of a curvature in the spinal cord.
There is also a number of serious underlying medical conditions that may cause CPB even though this is not very common. The conditions include infections, tumors, abdominal aortic aneurysms, kidney stones, and cauda equine syndrome. People with osteoporosis, endometriosis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, and fibromyalgia are also predisposed to CBP.
Pain is classified as CBP if it persists for over three months even after receiving treatment for the underlying cause such as injury or medical condition. Over twenty percent of all acute back pain cases end up developing into CBP with persisting symptoms. CBP can be alleviated through surgical and medical means, but not in all cases because the problem may persist even after that.
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.
Sprains and strains are the main cause of this medical condition in most people. Sprains occur when the ligaments in the vertebrae are overstretched or torn. On the other hand, strains are caused by tearing of muscles or tendons. Both strains and sprains may be caused by overstretching, lifting or twisting something improperly, or lifting too much weight. Spasms may also be triggered by such events, causing a lot of pain.
When the spinal nerve root is injured, inflamed and/or compressed, it causes a condition called radiculopathy. The exertion of pressure onto nerve roots causes numbness, pains, or tingling sensation, which radiates to other regions of the body that are served by the nerve. The pressure may result from herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
Sports, car accidents, and falls may injure muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the back, causing CBP. Intervertebral discs are usually herniated or ruptured as a result of excessive compression caused by traumatic injury. Nerve roots are in turn pressured by herniated discs, resulting into pain. Irregularities in the skeleton include congenital anomalies such as scoliosis and lordosis. Scoliosis only manifests in middle aged people. It is caused by presence of a curvature in the spinal cord.
There is also a number of serious underlying medical conditions that may cause CPB even though this is not very common. The conditions include infections, tumors, abdominal aortic aneurysms, kidney stones, and cauda equine syndrome. People with osteoporosis, endometriosis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, and fibromyalgia are also predisposed to CBP.
No comments:
Post a Comment