Back Pain Overview

Back Pain. Also called: Backache, Lumbago or dorsalgia

When you say "Oh, my aching back!", you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives and it is one of humanity's most frequent complaints.
It is not a specific disease. Rather, it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different processes,

Back pain in the lower back or low back pain is pain you feel in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.it can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that makes it hard to move. It can start quickly if you fall or lift something too heavy, or it can get worse slowly. Generally it can lasts from a few days to a few weeks. We can classify it by its duration into : acute (less than 4 weeks), subacute (4 – 12 weeks), chronic (greater than 12 weeks). If your pain persists for more than 3 months its called Chronic back pain . It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.
Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take awhile. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident or other stress on spinal bones and tissues. Symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight.
The pain generally can be divided into:
-neck pain,
-upper back pain,
-lower back pain or
-tailbone pain.
It may have a sudden onset or can be a chronic pain. it can be constant or intermittent, stay in one place or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be radiate into the arm and hand, in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.

Anyone can have back pain, but some things that increase your risk are:
- Getting older. Back pain is more common the older you get. You may first have back pain when you are 30 to 40 years old.
- Poor physical fitness. Back pain is more common in people who are not fit.
- Being overweight. A diet high in calories and fat can make you gain weight. over weight can stress the back and cause pain.
- Inherited diseases or conditions. Such as disc disease, can be inherited.
- Other diseases. Some types of arthritis and cancer can cause back pain.
- Your job. If you have to lift, push, or pull while twisting your spine, you may get back pain. If you work at a desk all day and do not sit up straight, you may also get back pain.
- Smoking. Your body may not be able to get enough nutrients to the discs in your back if you smoke. Smoker's cough may also cause back pain. People who smoke are slow to heal, so back pain may last longer.
- Another factor is race. For example, black women are two to three times more likely than white women to have part of the lower spine slip out of place.

The best recommendation to prevent back pain is
- Doing exercise: it enrich your physical fitness and keep your back muscles strong.
- Keeping your weight healthy or lose weight if you are over weigh , and you need to get enough calcium and vitamin D every day to have strong bones.
- Try to stand up straight and avoid heavy lifting when you can. If you have to lift something heavy, dont forget to bend your legs and keep your back straight.

Treatment for back pain depends on the kind of the pain . Acute back pain usually gets better without any treatment. Exercise and surgery are not usually used to treat acute back pain. Chronic back pain can be treated by one of the following types of treatments: Hot or Cold Packs (or Both) , Exercise , Medications, Behavior Changes, Injections, Complementary and Alternative Medical Treatments or finally Surgery.
The researchers studies show that Yoga can be helpful for back pain sufferers, and it may use to treat low back pain.