WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BACK PAIN?
Back pain is one of the most common symptoms we are all experienced at some point in our life time. Mine is usually a “nagging”, “aching” rather than a “pain” and it usually takes 2-3 days before it faded and went away on its own. However, if you experience frequent symptoms and it is worsening over time, there might be underlying problems that you might not know about it.
Here are structures in your back that can cause symptoms.
- “Muscle” which the client usually called “pulled” muscle. Medical term for this is muscle strain, muscle sprain. The most common scenario is the “weekend” warriors. This usually takes 4-5 days sometime a week before the symptoms resolve. No surgery needed for this type of problem. You need to learn the proper posture at work or even daily activities to prevent recurring problems.
- “Ligament” There is ligament that connect your spine bone or “vertebra” and like the “muscle”, the ligament can be injured from repetitive use or misuse. surgery to stabilize the spine may require if the problem progresses to the point that the spine becomes unstable.
- “Disc” Disc is the “cushion” between the bone and surrounding by a capsule. This is probably the most common cause of back pain. When we are getting mature (as I hate to say we are getting older), the water content and chemical contents of the cushion are diminished, meaning that the disc is no longer “juicy” or “plumped” which is medically called “degenerative disc”. Without a “plumped” disc, the stress during our daily activities causing damage to the fibrous capsule surrounding the disc which leads to tearing of the ring of the disc called annular tear. And over time, the disc material can leak into the tear of the ring which leads to a herniated disc. If the disc material come out ina bigger fashion and pushing the pressure against the nerve, then we called “protruded” disc. Then the larger size of that condition called “extruded” disc. You should see a physician or a spine specialist if you have a concern that your pain is from the disc so that the physicians can recommend the best course to prevent further damage of your disc.
- “Facet” Facet is the small joint that connect the two bone together on the back side. Like many other joints in your body, these joints can become arthritis over time and causing symptoms. The most common symptoms from the facet joint are stiffness and pain in the morning. Increasing pain with twisting and leaning back. You should see a physician or a spine specialist if you have a concern that your pain is from the disc so that the physicians can recommend the best course to prevent further damage of your disc.
Please contact us if you want to have a better understanding of your back pain.
