Back Pain

By John Michael White

Backache is possibly one of the most common problems of all. It can be very painful and can cause disabilities. It is usually among the working class that it is most common and it is regarded as normal rather than abnormal. The problem associated with the personal agony is so overwhelming that measuring the level and intensity of pain is very difficult to estimate.

One of the most common causes of back pain is slipped discs. Discs have a strong rubbery outer covering and a soft center surrounded with fluid, and it is this soft part that gives us the ability to bend and touch the floor.

You see, if our back was made up of just bones alone then it would be very stiff and so hard to bend. So in essence each disc is like a flexible shock absorber, giving us the movements we require for everyday actions.

Did you know that when walking or carrying heavy objects our bones compress the discs and squeeze most of the fluid form them, reducing our overall height. But don’t be alarmed when we rest and sleep at night the discs return to normal by regaining the lost fluids and expanding, thus our height returns again.

So it’s quite easy to understand why the back can suffer so much damage and pain. In particular lifting heavy objects too often and without using good common sense, by bending at the knees and keeping the correct posture, will result in severe discomfit, and if no proper action is taken and continue to overload the back, then the eventual result will be phenomenal pain and maybe some form of disability.

It is interesting to note that not all problems arise from bone, muscle or joint injury. Some other causes that may be an instigator are, a virus infection, stress, irritable bowel syndrome, shingles and gall stones, just to name a few.

Although our back has been designed to last a lifetime, it does get weaker the older we get, and is therefore more vulnerable to becoming damaged to stresses and strains.

We need to educate ourselves more and refrain from placing our spine under abnormal amounts of pressure, either at our place of work or a favorite sporting activity or any other everyday events that play a role in back related problems. It is wiser to prevent a problem before hand, than to find a remedy after the problem has occurred. Be careful be smart and stay healthy.

My name is John White and l enjoy writing articles.