How is the back made up?

The major feature is the spine. This is a highly complex and delicate structure which is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae.

In between each vertebra is a disc which acts as a shock absorber, and stops the bones rubbing together.

The discs are made up of a jelly like substance, which is protected by a tough, fibrous outer casing.

The spine is supported by specialised back muscles, and an array of ligaments, nerves and tendons.

What causes back pain?

As the spine is such a complex structure, it can often be difficult to pin down the exact cause of back pain.

Probably the most common cause is when the back muscles begin to spasm.

This can often occur after strenuous activity, or can be a reaction to repetitive strain.

The muscle is damaged, or irritated, and goes into spasm to protect the area from further injury.

This can be extremely painful, and can lead to muscle tears if undue stress is exerted.

Other causes of back pain include arthritis, fractures and infections.

In many cases experts believe back pain is a manifestation of emotional upset, rather than a physical problem.

More serious causes can include a prolapsed disc, or degenerative diseases of the spine - but these are relatively rare.

Are certain parts of the back more vulnerable?

Yes. The lower - or lumbar - region of the back is particularly prone to injury.

This because it bears the entire weight of the upper body, and is twisted and bent more than other parts.

As a result it inevitably suffers more wear and tear.

Why is back pain on the increase?

Experts believe that a major factor is the modern tendency to lead a sedentary lifestyle, both at work and home.

Spending long stretches of time sitting in one position - often with the back not properly supported - is not good for the spine.

The reliance on comfy soft furnishing may seem appealing - but often it encourages us to adopt a poor posture.

Back pain is much less common in places such as India, where many more people are used to sitting on the floor, which is thought to allow the back muscles to find their own natural position.

What is the treatment?

For most cases of back pain the only treatment is pain relief, often through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin.

Physiotherapy, heat therapy, massage and hydrotherapy can help.

How can you minimise the risk?

The spine is naturally curved into an S shape. The best way to keep it healthy is to try to maintain this shape as much as possible.

This is particularly important when performing tasks, such as lifting, that carry an increased risk of injury.

Strengthening the back muscles, keeping fit by taking regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight can all help to minimise the risk of back pain.

It is also important to have a mattress that properly supports the body while you are asleep.

If you do have a bad back probably the worst thing you can do is take to your bed.

Experts believe that it is best to stay as active as you possibly can.

Could there be another explanation for back pain?

Some lumbar and lower spinal pain is caused by patients having one leg longer than the other.

This puts the pelvis out of alignment causing pain, which without correction leads to long term compensatory problems such as back pain.

In this case it might be wise to consult a podiatrist who will measure the patient's limbs and if required provide either an orthoses - an orthopedic appliance used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities - or arrange to modify the patients shoe to correct the difference.

Informative post

i would like to add sumthing

many thanx 4 ur contribution ,, KS..

Pleasure is mine

thanx to both of u

salaam tihami
i guess motapa bhi contribute karta hai backache mein,true?


ek aur question
ek friend ko slip disk ho gayi,yun to usne zaahiran koi heavy load naheen utthaya tha lna kaheen gire the,lekin doc ne kaha sometimes a sudden jerk or movement can cause it too.
and one more thing (sprry too many questions) ek agar ek baccha 10 saal ki umr mein gir ta hai aur backbone mein dard hota hai aur theek ho jata hai aur later on kucch saalon mein dard dobarah shuru hota hai,paaon mein numbness aati hai,dard rehta hai paaon mein aur pata chalta hai slip disk hai,kya poosible hai ( ek case aisa huwa).

pahlaay sawal ka jawab tu aap nay khud hi day diya..
2nd case main.. possible hay k aik aur martaba gir gaya hou.. yah progressive progression hu slip disc ki.......

shukriya
thanks for being on the forum,bahot tasalli rehti hai

but dear muje to mattress per bhi sumtime back pain honay lagta hai specially summer mai ab samaj nahi ati kay meri let'ta sahi simt mai nahi r wat else

Back Pain is one of the increasing problem now a days..

Mughey bhi back pain problem hey since childhood.....aur iskey liey Orthopedic surgeon ne advise kya tha ke aap reqular exercise kerne ka kaha tha.

Bachpan meyn ya even job kerne se pehley tak to hum log games waghera ki wajah se back pain itna problem naheen kerta mager jesey jesey age berhti jati hey yeh back pain problem kerne lagta hey..

Best hal yeh hey key daily kuch der kamar dard ke specifi exercise ki jaeyn aur office meyn atleast after every one or two hours aap apni chair se utheyn ya apna body posture ko relex karen.

Bed ya matress per sone sey Dr mana kertey hey aur zameen ya takht (Not any flexible Bed) per soney key liey recommend kertey heyn.

Aur hat-ul-imkal chair per bethtey howey ya car drive kertey howey jitna apni back ko straight rekhtey howey take laga ker bethen utna hi faida mand hey...

back pain is solely get ridd off by Exercise or phsyeothropy.

Acupuncture is best way to treat back pain

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Published: 25 September 2007
Independent. UK


The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture works better than anything modern medicine has devised for the treatment of back pain, scientists have concluded.

In trials among 1,100 patients with chronic lower back pain which had lasted for an average of eight years, almost half (47 per cent) of those who received acupuncture showed significant improvement – compared with barely a quarter (27 per cent) of those given conventional treatment. The effects lasted for at least six months, long after the treatment was completed.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Regensberg, in the spa town of Bad Abbach in Germany.

The findings add to evidence accumulated over the past 10 years suggesting that the 4,000-year-old practice of acupuncture is an effective treatment for back pain, which affects up to 70-85 per cent of the population at some point.

It will be seen as a victory for exponents of alternative medicine in their battle with orthodox medicine, although many physiotherapists trained in conventional techniques now also practise acupuncture.

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2996103.ece