Understand Your Back Pain
Learn More About Your Back
The anatomy of your back is made up of many different structures that work together to support your body. This includes your spine, back muscles, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels. An issue with any one of these structures can lead to back pain.
The spinal column or spine is composed of irregularly shaped bones that protect the spinal cord and provide the framework of the trunk. There are four regions of the spine:
- Cervical Spine. This segment of the spine is found in the neck area. The cervical segment comprises seven bones and has various joints that allow several different movements. Muscles attach to this segment to move the neck and shoulders.
- Thoracic Spine. The thoracic spine is located around the upper to mid-portion of the back. It is made up of twelve vertebral bones with special attachment sites for the ribs.
- Lumbar Spine The five lumbar vertebral bones are found in the lower back. These are the largest vertebral bones. Their size allows them to support the weight of the head, trunk, and upper limbs. However, as their main role is to provide stability to the spine, the mobility of this segment can be limited.
- Sacrum and Coccyx These are a collection of fused bones that form our tailbone. The sacrum is comprised of five fused vertebral bodies and about three to five small bones fused together to create the coccyx. Both structures are weight-bearing and vital for walking, standing, and sitting.
CAUSES
Possible Causes of Back Pain
Mechanical/Structural Problems
- Sprain: An injury to the spine's ligaments usually caused by improper lifting or twisting.
- Strain: A tear or stretch to a muscle or tendon.
- Degenerative disc disease: Degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae of the spine due to age and wear and tear.
- Disc inflammation, bulge or herniation: inflamed and swollen discs put pressure on nearby spinal nerves.
- Spondylolisthesis: A misaligned vertebra in the spine, causing irritation.
Inflammatory Conditions
- Ankylosing spondylitis: An inflammatory disease, marked by stiffness, that can lead to some of the vertebrae of the spine fusing together over time.
- Transverse myelitis: An inflammation on both sides of the spinal cord structure.
- Other Types of Inflammation: Arthritis of the spine
Other Medical Conditions
- Osteoporosis: The loss of bone mass increases the likelihood of vertebral fractures.
- Fibromyalgia: A condition characterised by widespread muscle pain and fatigue.
- Kidney stones or infections
- Endometriosis: Endometrial cells can be found outside the uterus and cause pain.
- Tumours: These may develop in the spinal cavity and press on the spinal cord
- Pregnancy
Common Symptoms Of Back Pain
There are many types of back pain, from localised pain in a specific spot to generalised pain affecting the whole back. Pain may radiate from the back to other areas of the body, such as the buttocks, legs, or abdomen. The severity of back pain varies from person to person. In general, you may experience one or all of the following symptoms in conjunction with your back pain:
- Pain with lifting or bending.
- Pain with sitting, standing or resting.
- Early morning stiffness that eases with activity.
- Radiating pain to the buttocks, hip, or leg.
- Neural symptoms such as pins and needles, numbness or tingling.
- Inability to move in all directions.
TREATMENTS
Physiotherapy Treatments For Your Back Pain
01.
Electrical Stimulation
Reduce painful back muscle spasms by desensitising neural pain pathways using electrical stimulation.
02.
Massage
Improve posture, release tight muscles and spasm by targeting tense postural muscles and promoting relaxation.
03.
Myofascial Release
Improve movement and flexibility by breaking down tight points in soft tissue structures.
04.
Ultrasound Treatment
Reduce inflammation in spinal joints and reduce muscle tightness and spasm using high frequency ultrasound therapy .
05.
Heat Therapy
Improve tissue extensibility, improve blood circulation and aid muscle relaxation through heat therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ's About Back Pain
What are the risk factors for back pain?
Back pain can affect anyone, even children and teens. The following factors may increase your risk:
- Age. As you get older, back pain becomes more common, starting around age 30 to 40.
- Lack of exercise. You could suffer from back pain if your back and abdomen muscles are weak or unused.
- Excess weight. Being overweight puts more pressure on your back.
- Diseases. Cancer and arthritis can cause back pain.
- Improper lifting. Repeatedly lifting with your back rather than your legs can later cause back pain.
- Psychological conditions. Back pain is more common in people who suffer from depression and anxiety.
- Smoking. Those who smoke have a higher incidence of back pain. Smoking may trigger fits of coughing, leading to herniated disks. As a result of smoking, blood flow to the spine is reduced, and osteoporosis risk is increased
What are the types of back pain?
Back pain diagnosis depends on the location, type, and severity of your pain and any associated symptoms. Among the most common classifications are:
- Mechanical pain. Mechanical pain occurs in one specific localised area. The pain can be described in a number of ways, such as sharp or dull, constant or throbbing. A muscle strain, facet joint sprain, and annular tears in discs are all common causes of mechanical back pain.
- Referred pain. Referred pain is usually dull and achy and frequently moves around and varies in intensity. When degenerative disc disease occurs in the lower back, referred pain may occur in the hips and posterior thighs as well.
- Radicular pain. Radicular pain, which often feels electric shock-like or searing, follows the path of the spinal nerve as it leaves the spinal canal. A spinal nerve root is compressed and/or inflamed, causing this type of pain. Radicular pain from the lumbar spine can radiate down to the buttocks and the leg. Pain with radicular patterns may also be referred to as sciatica or radiculopathy (if it is accompanied by weakness or numbness). It can also be caused by conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or spondylolisthesis.
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
Should you experience the following symptoms that do not improve after a few weeks, please consult with your physiotherapist or doctor.
- A feeling of numbness and tingling.
- Excruciating back pain that does not improve with medication.
- Pain after a fall or injury.
- Urinary problems.
- Numbness, weakness, or pain in the legs.
- Fever.
- Unexpected weight loss.
