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by philip chave
Back pain: the facts.
Pain - it's all in the head!... .. . But, so is the solution!
What kind of conditions are caused, or can cause, back strain?
Back pain: the facts.
Pain - it's all in the head!... .. . But, so is the solution!
Well, pain is controlled by the brain. "Pain" is the body's own self defence mechanism, pinpointing an injury site so that you pay attention to it, protect it, and prevent further damage. Our bodies send a signal from the site of the injury to our brains, which responds by organizing the delivery of appropriate pain relieving chemicals and tissue repair products.
What kind of conditions are caused, or can cause, back strain?
Height/Weight ratio: If you are above the recommended weight for your height, losing weight can have a significant impact on reducing the strain you place on your back muscles. Back pain most commonly affects the lower, lumbar region of the spine. This is normally due to excessive strain on the muscles, ligaments and small joints of the skeleton. Quite often overweight people are also unfit, and have poor muscle tone, which puts them at increased risk, over and above having to support a heavier load.
Remember: Putting on Weight is a Pain in the Back.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an inflammatory disease which causes the synovial membrane linings in the joints to become thickened, inflamed and to produce excess synovial fluid leading to redness, stiffness, swelling and pain. Areas of inflammation cause bone to become worn and distorted. When trying to deal with pain in other areas, sufferers often lose site of how distorted they have become, and twisting awkwardly to avoid injury transfers the strain to the back, usually the lower back, with obvious consequences.
Sciatica: Sciatica causes, sometimes mild, but more often severe pain in the buttock, and down the back of one leg. This is the result of the sciatic nerve being compressed or damaged, usually at the vertebral level, by a prolapsed (slipped) intervertebral disc, which presses on the root of the sciatic nerve where it joins the spinal cord. There are two sciatic nerves, left and right, but usually sciatica only affects one leg at a time. Sometimes, in serious cases, it can affect both legs.
Remember: Putting on Weight is a Pain in the Back.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an inflammatory disease which causes the synovial membrane linings in the joints to become thickened, inflamed and to produce excess synovial fluid leading to redness, stiffness, swelling and pain. Areas of inflammation cause bone to become worn and distorted. When trying to deal with pain in other areas, sufferers often lose site of how distorted they have become, and twisting awkwardly to avoid injury transfers the strain to the back, usually the lower back, with obvious consequences.
Sciatica: Sciatica causes, sometimes mild, but more often severe pain in the buttock, and down the back of one leg. This is the result of the sciatic nerve being compressed or damaged, usually at the vertebral level, by a prolapsed (slipped) intervertebral disc, which presses on the root of the sciatic nerve where it joins the spinal cord. There are two sciatic nerves, left and right, but usually sciatica only affects one leg at a time. Sometimes, in serious cases, it can affect both legs.
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