The back is a complex region defined by a combination of blood vessels, muscle tissue, tendons, cartilages, bones, and nervous tissue. With that many structures, the likelihood of developing pain is apparent. Back pain can occur anywhere from the neck down to the lumbar spine and buttocks. Sometimes, back pain dermatomes down the leg.
Treating back pain is delicate because of the importance of the structures and vessels. The spinal cord, for example, carries the central nervous system. The spine is the main anchorage structure for the thorax and abdominal area. The spine also controls posture, locomotion, and twisting.
To effectively address back pain, the doctors need to know the cause of that pain.
Typical causes of back pain
Herniated discs
Disc herniation refers to the slipping, building, or rupturing of the spinal discs. The herniation can be caused by trauma, a degenerative disease, or an infection. When a disc herniates, spinal stenosis can happen. That is because herniated discs are dislodged from the annulus, causing a constriction of the spinal canal. The constriction can pinch nerves leading to acute low back pain.
In a disc herniation, the back pain will more often than not present as radial pain. The pain is often felt in the lumbar back. Where such pain radiates downwards from the lumbar spine towards the buttocks the posterior thigh areas, the condition is referred to as sciatica.
Spinal Osteoarthritis
The spine is made up of vertebral bones separated by cartilages at the joints. As a highly mobile structure, the spine needs a separation between the bones. When the cartilages between two bones wear out, the spine grows bony structures to fill the gap and maintain structural integrity. The bony growths are unsuitable for the joint area because they are not soft and compressible like cartilages. The result is the grinding of two vertebrae, causing noises that later turn into back pain.
Back pain due to spine osteoarthritis can happen on any section of the spine.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal. The spinal canal can narrow because of trauma. The canal can also narrow due to age-related degeneration of the spine and can also be caused by obesity.
A narrowing of the spinal canal can often lead to a restriction in nerve roots. Consequently, this results in back pain that is felt radially across one’s body and sometimes travels along nerves leading them towards other places like your buttocks or limbs.
Muscular injury
The back has strong muscles attached to the spine through tendons and ligaments. Muscles in the human posterior are important for structure and motion. Muscular injuries can happen due to factors such as trauma or infection. When the back muscles and their associated tendons and ligaments have an injury, they are likely to experience back pain.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is the bending of the spine into a C or S shape. People with scoliosis have a curvature to their gait. The exact cause of scoliosis is not well-known. Some studies suggest scoliosis could have a genetic cause because there are families where multiple members present with the curved spine. Regardless of the cause, scoliosis can cause back pain.
The spinal column’s curvature also interferes with the ability to lift heavy loads, for example. Also, the spine’s curvature creates fragility, thereby putting the person at risk of spondylolysis. The spine’s curvature could also cause lower back pain if the person sits for a long time.
Poor sitting posture
Poor sitting posture exerts pressure on the spinal column. With the bent spine, the pressure can either cause excessive pressure on discs, squeeze a nerve root in the spinal cord, or stretch a muscle or tendon in the back. Any of these occurrences would cause low back pain.
Alternative therapies for back pain
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Asian practice where needles are used to relieve pain and tension. Acupuncture is a delicate art that has been medically reviewed and found to relieve back pain symptoms in some cases. Considering the fragile nature of the spinal area, acupuncture is a therapy best provided by an experienced therapist.
Mechanical relief
A chiropractor can provide mechanical relief for back pain. Chiropractic care traces its roots to Asia as well. Traditional societies had a way to relieve pain through the mechanical restoration of the spine into its natural form. Chiropractic care benefits from modern technologies such as x-rays and CT scans to image the exact misaligned structures. The chiropractor can then mechanically push the misaligned vertebra into their annulus, thereby relieving the patient’s low back pain.
Heat and ice treatment
Heat and ice can be used to treat muscular inflammation. The heat is used to create a muscular expansion, causing relaxation of the fibers. Relaxed fibers release the tension they held, thereby causing relief. Additionally, relaxed muscles promote better blood circulation, further relieving back pain.
Ice packs are used to reduce the chances of muscular inflammation. A person who engages in hard physical exercises in a sporting or working context can use ice packs to calm their muscles, thereby reducing back pain.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy uses targeted force to soothe tissue. The goal is to relax tissue and remote circulation of blood within the target tissue. Back muscles are an example of tissue that could benefit from massage therapy to relieve back pain. The buttocks are a large muscle mass that can benefit from massage therapy. Massage therapy also promotes mental relaxation. A relaxed mind is good for overcoming pain.
Physical exercises
Physical therapy exercises specifically designed to stretch out the spine have been shown effective in reducing painful sensations often associated with lower-back problems; this is due partly to muscle relaxation, which promotes better blood circulation, including ample oxygenation throughout our body organs/tissues, which helps alleviate chronic aches and pains common among today’s population.
You can find relief from back pain by stretching the spine and exercising. The lifting of heavy objects, such as groceries or furniture, puts stress on your back because when you do it in an incorrect way without bending at your knees instead of just rounding over with a straight stomach, like most people are tempted to do. That’s why doing stretches for 20 minutes every day will help keep that pain away!
At New York Spine Specialists, our team of physicians and surgeons is here to help you with your back pain. We can provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plans for all our patients, including alternative therapies that may be right for you. Contact us today if you need any physical therapy or rehabilitation! Suitable therapies are waiting to help you live a pain-free life.