Spine problems – causes, symptoms and prevention

Spine problems – Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

Spine pain or back pain is a very common complaint. Even though it may be painful and uncomfortable, it isn’t usually serious. Under common circumstances spine problems often appear if there is any discomfort in your spinal joints, spinal muscles, spinal discs and spinal nerves.

It is significantly more common among adults aged between 35 to 55 years.

Spine problem can be further divided into, lower back or upper back. The lower back is commonly linked to the bony lumbar spine, lower back muscles, ligaments around the spine and discs, discs between the vertebrae, spinal cord and nerves, and pelvic internal organs, the skin around the lumbar area and abdomen. On the other hand the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, spine inflammation, and tumors in the chest. In many cases, it is impossible to find the main cause for the spine problem.

When a cause is found, common clarifications included are;    

Stress or severe back pain injury Fracture Back strain Heavy exertion

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Overload of back muscles due to obesity Unusual back pain –lifting heavy objects or pregnancy Diseases or injury involving backbone (vertebrae) Bone-thinning disease osteoporosis Degenerative arthritis - wear & tear of the muscles Spinal nerve disorder - Protruding disk (a fibrous cushion between vertebrae) or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) Kidney stones or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) Other rarer conditions include: Inflammatory arthritis - Ankylosing spondylitis A spinal tumor or a cancer spread to the spine from elsewhere in the body Infection in the disk space, bone (osteomyelitis), abdomen, pelvis or bloodstream

Symptoms o Back sprain or strain o Fibromyalgia - group of common rheumatoid (pertaining to arthritis) disorders characterized by achy pain, tenderness, and stiffness of muscles o Degenerative arthritis of the spine – stiffness and trouble bending over usually develops over years. o Inflammatory arthritis – includes pain in the lower back, morning stiffness in the back, neck, chest, and hips. o Osteoporosis – thinned, weakened bones that fracture easily, common in postmenopausal women. o Cancer in the spinal bones or nearby structures – Constant Back pain, numbness, weakening or tingling of the legs.

Spreads across spinal nerves that control the bladder and bowel, there may be bowel or bladder incontinence (loss of control). o Protruding disk - severe pain in the lower back, the pain gets worse while bending or twisting.

o Spinal stenosis – Pain, numbness and weakness affecting back and legs, these symptoms may get worse when you are standing or walking for too long.

After confirming your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will examine your back muscles and spine and will ask you to move in a certain ways or direction to check for pain, numbness, stiffness, abnormal reflexes, muscle tenderness or weakness. He may recommend you to do one or more of the following tests: o o o o o o

X-rays of your back Blood test Urine tests Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Computed tomography (CT) scans Nerve conduction studies and electromyography to determine whether nerves, muscles or both may be injured o Bone scans, especially if you have a previous history of cancer

You can prevent some form of spinal problem by strengthening your back with exercise and avoiding activities that may lead to serious spinal injury.

Here are some simple preventive measures that may help you prevent spinal injury. o Maintaining good body posture o By making simple changes in your sleeping postures can relieve the strain of back pain. o Regularly exercising o Abdominal crunches (to strengthen your abdominal muscles) o Walking and swimming are also effective ways to strengthen your lower back. o Remember to lift objects from a squatting position, pass on the object weight equally on your hips & legs to avoid cramps or twists.

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Avoiding standing or sitting for too long.

Choose your footwear wisely, ensure they are comfortable.

Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D daily.

Woman with menopause should consult with doctor for osteoporosis and medications that can help them to prevent or reverse it.

There are a number of treatments available and most episodes of spinal pain are not so serious and can be anticipated to be treated with time and simple lifestyle modifications. Unlike the other serious condition that requires appropriate care and treatment are to be treated with professional help.

Note- This article is originally appeared on – http://healthfirstmagazine.blogspot.com/2017/04/spine-problems-causes-symptoms-and.html