Causes Of Chronic Back Pain

By Kimberly Rogers


Research indicates that back pain is a common problem with more than 80n percent of all adults experiencing it at some point. It is the main cause why people miss work in Greenbelt. Both women and men have the same predisposition to this medical condition. Severity ranges from sharp pains capable of rendering an adult incapacitated within a short while to dull but persistent discomfort. The abbreviation CBP for chronic back pain will be assumed in this article.

Pain is classified as CBP if it persists for over three months even after receiving treatment for the underlying cause such as injury or medical condition. Over twenty percent of all acute back pain cases end up developing into CBP with persisting symptoms. CBP can be alleviated through surgical and medical means, but not in all cases because the problem may persist even after that.

CPB characteristically occurs in the lumbar region within the five vertebrae of the lower back region. This region is the one responsible for supporting the upper part of the body. Movement and other bodily actions result into shock, pressure, and friction in the vertebrae discs. The intervertebral discs function to absorb the shock and minimize friction. Ligaments are available to maintain the vertebrae in place. Signals from the spinal cord are transmitted to the brain by a total of 31 pairs of nerves.

In most cases, this problem is caused by causes that have a mechanical nature. For instance, the spine undergoes wear and tear naturally as people continue to age. The wear and tear results in pains over time. Additional causes include sprains and strains, herniated or ruptured discs, intervertebral degeneration, radiculopathy, traumatic injury, skeletal irregularities, and sciatica.

In most people, the cause of this problem is sprains and strains. When ligaments of the vertebrae are overstretched, sprains result. Conversely, strains come from tearing of muscles and/or tendons. There are many causes for both strains and sprains including lifting heavy objects and overstretching. The same causes may also cause spasms, which are equally painful.

Radiculopathy is a condition that results from inflammation, injury and/or compression occurring to the spinal nerve root. When pressure is exerted on a nerve root, a tingling sensation, numbness, or pain is caused which radiates to all parts of the body served by the nerve. When spinal stenosis or a ruptured disc exerts pressure on a nerve root, this problem is caused.

Sports, car accidents, and falls may injure muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the back, causing CBP. Intervertebral discs are usually herniated or ruptured as a result of excessive compression caused by traumatic injury. Nerve roots are in turn pressured by herniated discs, resulting into pain. Irregularities in the skeleton include congenital anomalies such as scoliosis and lordosis. Scoliosis only manifests in middle aged people. It is caused by presence of a curvature in the spinal cord.

There is also a number of serious underlying medical conditions that may cause CPB even though this is not very common. The conditions include infections, tumors, abdominal aortic aneurysms, kidney stones, and cauda equine syndrome. People with osteoporosis, endometriosis, inflammatory diseases of the joints, and fibromyalgia are also predisposed to CBP.




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