Got Back Pain? Help Your Family Understand How Severe It Is

According to many people who suffer from back pain it ranks a close second to headaches. It is known as the leading cause of long-term disability in people under the age of 45 and the third leading cause among adults over 45. Millions of dollars are spent every year on back pain relief. According to a Dr. Alf L. Nachemson a scientific researcher in back problems, two billion patients worldwide have suffered from low back pain in the past decade. It is actually a recurring cycle of pain. A book called ” The Fight Against Pain” states that physical pain causes anxiety and depression that may in turn lead to even more intense and persistent pain. Several of my family members have suffered from this problem, and at first I minimized the pain, because I did not understand how much they were really suffering.

What exactly is the reason why many people have problems with their back? Doctors say that persistent back pain can signal many internal diseases. Some people suffer from a herniated disks and muscle spasms. A Herniated disk is a major cause of back disease among young and middle-aged adults. They are sometimes referred to a s slipped disks. By the time a person reaches his 20’s the spongy interior of the disks begin to lose their elasticity and moisture, which causes the disk to shrink. The pain however, actually occurs when part of the spongy interior herniates, or bulges through the outer ring of fibrous tissue.

There is also another very painful condition that several members of my family suffer from, known as sciatica. This occurs if there is pressure exerted on the roots of the sciatic nerve. Sciatic pain usually begins in the low back and shoots out into the hip and buttock and on down the back of the thigh, sometimes even as far as the calf and foot. If you suffer from any of these symptoms or if someone in your family suffers from this problem than you should seek the advice of a doctor immediately.

A spasm occurs when an out-of -shape muscle tenses up so much that is becomes a hard lump. This usually occurs without any warning and can even temporarily immobilize a person. A back spasm can be very agonizing and difficult to cope with especially if you have children. Doctors say that these spasms occur to protect a person from incurring further damage to weakened muscles.

There are several things that you and your family can do to ease some of this back pain. Poor posture, obesity, weak muscles and stress are just a few factors that can contribute to the pain in your lower back. Also if several activities such as sitting, standing or lifting is done improperly they can also cause you to experience problems with your back. The majority of those who experience back pain of muscular origin are usually directed by their doctors to try conservative treatment. This would include bed rest, use of heat, massage, exercise, and possibly some anti-inflammatory pain relieving medication. If your family is not very sensitive to the pain that you are experiencing you may want to try explaining a few of these facts to them.

I would even suggest taking your spouse with you to your doctor’s visit so that they can really understand what you are going through and what they can do to help make things better or easier for you. Many people also tend to feel that back pain is a minor thing, but depending on how severe your back pain is it may be necessary to have surgery to correct the problem or pain that may be associated with a herniated disk. Once your family truly understands how you feel you will be able to get the help you need.