Back Pain
Back pain is a condition that affects most people at some time during their life. Pain and stiffness in the lower back are the most frequent symptoms.
The most common cause of back pain is from an injury that involved a sudden movement. Everyday activities at home or at work may also set off an episode of back pain. Examples are :
- bending awkwardly
- standing or bending down for long periods
- lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling incorrectly
- slouching in chairs
- twisting
- coughing / sneezing
- over-stretching
- traumatic accidents
- sports injuries
- pregnancy
Sometimes pain is there on waking for no apparent reason.
In most cases scans, such as X-rays and MRI's, do not show where back pain comes from. This is where Osteopathy is very helpful. Osteopaths are able to feel the misalignment in the spine and the swelling in the tissues that may not show up on X-ray or MRI.
Problems in the back that may lead to pain are muscle strain, ligament sprain, disc bulge with possible associated nerve irritation, sacroiliac joint dysfuntion and facet joint syndrome.
Even though the pain may be felt in the back, the problem may come from other parts of the body, such as the knee or ankle.
In order to properly treat back pain, it is necessary to figure out the underlying cause of the pain and which part of the body is causing it.
Strains and sprains
Strains and sprains are both very common injuries and account for most of the complaints of back pain. They are different and affect differing parts of the anatomy.
A strain relates to the muscle or tendon that has been stretched too far. Damage to the muscles or tendons can result in muscle spasm, weakness and a decrease in normal mobility.
A sprain is with regards to the ligaments that attaches bone to bone. A sprain is often more painful and serious than a strain and can take a lot longer to heal.
Degenerative Disc Disease
The spinal discs act as a spacer between vertebrae and allows movement through the spine. The disc can become inflamed and irritate the nerves surrounding the disc.
The first signs that there may be a problem with these discs are stiffness and less movement of the spine. Being unable to bend easily or having difficulty straightening up after being in the seated position may indicate there is a problem.
Many people of course suffer from this condition without even knowing it, as they do not feel the pain. In other cases the pain can be quite severe. The natural body response is to tighten the muscles to stabilize the area. This can lead to muscle spasms in the back.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom of lumbar vertebral disc bulge or sacroiliac dysfunction. Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that originates from the lower back and radiates down the back or side of the leg, occasional down as far as the toes. It is a fairly common symptom.
The type of pain can range from annoying or niggly, to agony with disability. Sciatica typically affects one side of the body at a time. It usually occurs as episodes, which may worsen with every attack.
Sacroiliac Joint Disfunction
The Sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum to the pelvis, the spine sits on the sacrum. Pain is located either to the left or right of the low back. Symptoms can range from a stiffness that makes it difficult to stand from sitting, through to pain that prevents movement. The pain may radiate out into the buttocks and sometimes radiate to the front of the pelvis into the groin. Occasionally, there may sciatic symptoms into the lower limb. Classsic symptoms are:
- difficulty turning over in bed
- struggling to put on shoes and socks
- pain getting your legs in and out of the car
- stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from bed in the morning
Facet Joint Syndrome
Facet joint syndrome is a form of back pain focused on the facet joints in the back. This can happen because of an injury, or in diseases like arthritis.
The facet joints are the connections between the vertebrae. They link the vertebrae, helping to support the weight of the body and keep the spine flexible. They allow bending, arching and twisting of the spine. They also stop the spine from bending too far. Facet joint syndrome causes pain and stiffness in the back, including difficulties in turning to the left or right, bending and straightening. Pain may be only on one side of the spine. They may also cause the muscles to spasm causing sudden pain.