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Unfortunately, we don’t pamper our precious backs as we do our skin or hair or nails. We should. Back pain is said to affect at one time or another up to 80% of the population. It is estimated that four out of five adults under the age of 45 will experience some sort of back pain in their lives. Back pain is said to be the second most common cause of people taking time off from work (the first being the common cold).

These are horrifying statistics for a disorder that is often simply due to bad back health.

Back pain is described in many different ways, and the type of pain you may experience will vary depending on the type of injury or illness you have. Back pain that occurs suddenly may be caused by injury, while back pain that occurs gradually usually indicates an underlying condition.

Back pain can cause mild discomfort to intolerable agony. On the extreme end, back pain can leave people bed-ridden and suffering nausea, vomiting, and fever. Back pain can be acute (due to a temporary condition like pregnancy), chronic (as with scoliosis), and sporadic (a lifetime of bad posture).

Sufferers agree, however, that this is a condition that lays a patient low both physically and emotionally. Furthermore, it is often, in itself, the cause of further back problems. The condition can create a vicious circle: bad back pains result in bad posture as the sufferer stoops, bends and shuffles at home or at work in an effort to ease the pain. The result: increasing chronic back pain.

What are some causes?

– Age, an unavoidable fact of life, brings with it back pain. It can be made worse with back disorders such as spinal stenosis.

– Back pain is also associated with medical conditions like pregnancy, and the pain usually dissipates as the condition ceases.

– Everyone knows someone who suffers with arthritis, a very common cause of back pain, particularly in the elderly and sports people.

– Sports and car injuries are another common cause. Lumbar strains, vertebrae fractures can cause specifically located back strain.

– Bad posture is one of the most common causes of backache, experienced particularly in certain occupations, e.g., secretaries who sit all day or sales assistants who stand all day. Many manual labor jobs may cause back pain.

– Back pain as a result of infection around the brain or spinal cord. This type of back pain will resolve itself as the illness is treated.

– Congenital back pain may be caused by certain inherent diseases (those a person may be born with, e.g., curvature of the spine).

– Illness, such as liver or kidney disease.

If you experience back pain that lasts for more than a few days, you should contact your doctor or other professional for treatment advice. There are many treatment options, including alternative treatments that are non-invasive.

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