The spine is consists of special bones called vertebrae, between which lie cartilage like cushions called discs that make your spine mobile and behave as shock absorbers. Muscles and ligaments hold everything together. Most of the time, these components work perfectly in harmony with each other, and also the good news is that in the majority of cases spine problems aren't because of any serious underlying conditions.
Lower back pain is very common and a frequent reason for people having to take time off work. Common reasons for back pain are as follows:
Mechanical back pain: This type of pain is usually due to muscular tension or abnormal stress or strain on the muscles and ligaments in the lower back.
Sciatica: A pain caused by pressure on a nerve that goes from your back into your leg (the sciatic nerve), sciatica often occurs because one from the discs between the bones in your spine pushes out temporarily, or sometimes permanently.
Although lower back pain can be quite severe and disabling, in the vast majority of cases it's not due to any serious underlying problem in most cases gets better by itself within a matter of days or a couple of weeks. Rarer reasons for back pain, however, include injury to your spine or inflammation from the joints in your back, among other problems. Seek medical health advice as soon as possible if you have back pain, particularly in the following circumstances:
Even when no clear diagnosis can be made for your back pain, you don't necessarily need further testing and you certainly don't always need a scan or X-rays.
No such thing exists as a standard cure for lower back pain, and you may need to try different approaches before you discover something that matches your needs. Doctors don't advise bed rest anymore, since it can slow your recovery. Gently getting moving again is much better. Merely a very small minority of people with back pain need surgery and, in most all cases, you don't necessarily even have to stay off work if you are afflicted by back pain.
Adequate pain relief is very important in helping speed up your recovery from lower back pain. Your doctor and your pharmacist can counsel you about suitable preparations. If your symptoms don't improve on their own or get worse, though, consider seeing a chiropractor or osteopath, or speak to your doctor about other forms of treatment for example physiotherapy, as well as different types of medication.
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03102011
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