Back pain is one of the most common reasons that people visit the doctor’s office. Back pain, or lower back ache, can be acute or chronic, acute because the pain can last for only a few hours or days or chronic because the pain occurs regularly. Most chronic episodes of back pain result from damage to the soft tissue surrounding the lower back, including ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
The lumbar back supports the body, especially the spine, and spinal cord, and is made up of six discs that have three interlocking discs in between them that are designed to support the vertebrae in the lower back and keep the spine flat. The soft tissues that are responsible for the support of the spine include the nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that form a large network of structures that are interconnected. When damage to these structures occurs, the person suffering back pain may experience numbness, tingling, and weakness in the muscles or tendons.
There are several types of soft tissue damage that can occur when the person suffers back pain. Some of the more common causes are injuries such as car accidents, falls and accidents at home or work. However, it may be possible to heal some of the damage caused by an accident if the patient learns proper techniques for rehabilitation and exercises, which are necessary to strengthen muscles and reduce any amount of inflammation in the back.
Another cause of chronic back aches and pains is degenerative disorders of the spine. These disorders can result from trauma, bone disease, or spinal tumors. These disorders can include disc degeneration, vertebral subluxations, herniated discs, and other spinal disorders.
When an injury occurs to a patient, whether from a car accident, fall, home or work accident or some other reason, there may be nerve damage, and other symptoms, as well as muscle damage and sprains, that may occur. The most common symptoms include leg pain, arm pain, numbness, headaches, and weakness. If left untreated, the pain and the symptoms may persist even after the injury heals.
When suffering back pain and the associated symptoms are left untreated, it is possible to develop osteoporosis, a disease that causes bone loss, arthritis, muscle atrophy, weak bones, and a decreased ability to absorb shock. When not treated, osteoporosis can lead to kidney failure and hip fractures, stroke and heart disease. It is also possible to develop a herniated disc in the spine, resulting in excruciating pain. And severe back ache that may require surgery, which is extremely painful, long-term treatment and may even need to be followed by an operation, if the disc cannot be repaired.
