Back pain relief should be directed towards a diagnosed or suspected specific cause. In order to understand the causes of back pain, it is important to have an idea of the key structures in that area of the body as pain in the low back can relate to any of such structures.
The low back area is made up of the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
The low back provides structural support for the body and protects vital organs located in the pelvis and abdomen, including soft tissues of the nervous system and the spinal cord. The bony spine, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the structures responsible for weight bearing.
Therefore when any of these structures is injured, it impacts on the ability of the back to support the weight of the body, as manifested by pain when we bend, extend, or rotate at the waist or make any movement involving the low back.
Common causes of back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation and bony encroachment of nerves and the spinal cord, conditions of the bone and joints and diseases affecting the internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen.
Lumbar strain is one of the most common and it arises from a stretch injury to structures such as low back muscles, ligaments and tendons. Such injuries are common after sustaining some form of trauma in the lower back or due to inappropriate use of that area of the body. Depending on the severity of the injury, the pain can be mild, moderate or severe and may lead to spasm of the affected muscles.
Initial treatment would be to relief the back pain before a definitive diagnosis can be made to determine the cause of the pain and exclude damage to important structures. This may include resting the back, medications to relieve the pain and muscle spasm and local heat applications.
One particularly effective method is the application of a T.E.N.S Unit to the affected area to relief the pain. T.E.N.S stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. When applied to the skin over the affected area, a T.E.N.S device sends electrical pulses through pads placed on the skin to intercept the pain pathways in the sensory nerves, thereby blocking the sensation of pain.
T.E.N.S devices also cause the release of the body's natural pain relief chemicals called endorphins. These natural pain relief chemicals flood the system and produce a soothing relief of pain. This is an alternative, drug free way of relieving back pain, which makes it particularly of interest to those who are breast feeding and others who may want to avoid possible side effects of taking medications.
The low back area is made up of the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
The low back provides structural support for the body and protects vital organs located in the pelvis and abdomen, including soft tissues of the nervous system and the spinal cord. The bony spine, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the structures responsible for weight bearing.
Therefore when any of these structures is injured, it impacts on the ability of the back to support the weight of the body, as manifested by pain when we bend, extend, or rotate at the waist or make any movement involving the low back.
Common causes of back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation and bony encroachment of nerves and the spinal cord, conditions of the bone and joints and diseases affecting the internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen.
Lumbar strain is one of the most common and it arises from a stretch injury to structures such as low back muscles, ligaments and tendons. Such injuries are common after sustaining some form of trauma in the lower back or due to inappropriate use of that area of the body. Depending on the severity of the injury, the pain can be mild, moderate or severe and may lead to spasm of the affected muscles.
Initial treatment would be to relief the back pain before a definitive diagnosis can be made to determine the cause of the pain and exclude damage to important structures. This may include resting the back, medications to relieve the pain and muscle spasm and local heat applications.
One particularly effective method is the application of a T.E.N.S Unit to the affected area to relief the pain. T.E.N.S stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. When applied to the skin over the affected area, a T.E.N.S device sends electrical pulses through pads placed on the skin to intercept the pain pathways in the sensory nerves, thereby blocking the sensation of pain.
T.E.N.S devices also cause the release of the body's natural pain relief chemicals called endorphins. These natural pain relief chemicals flood the system and produce a soothing relief of pain. This is an alternative, drug free way of relieving back pain, which makes it particularly of interest to those who are breast feeding and others who may want to avoid possible side effects of taking medications.
SHARE
