Back pain is one of the most common complaints and reasons of seeking medical consultations. It is considered one of the most debilitating physical conditions, necessitating treatments to control its severity and reoccurrences. Hence, back pains can greatly affect your quality of life and physical functioning.

The spinal column is made up of vertebrae, the building blocks of the spine. In a healthy spine, the rectangular – shaped vertebrae are arranged in a way that they are stacked on top of each other. In between two vertebrae is the intervertebral disc, a cartilaginous cushion that mainly functions to absorb pressures placed against your spine. They prevent the vertebrae from rubbing against each other so that you can do your routine activities effectively, without pain. The ligaments and paraspinal muscles, or back muscles are attached to your spine to support the upright position and the movements of your spine. The architecture of the back consists of a delicate relationship between these structures. When either one of these is altered or compromised, back pain ensues.

Muscle strains caused by improper posturing are the most common causes of back pain. Back pain is also caused by the bulging of the discs, compression of the spinal nerves, narrowing of the spinal canal, deviations of the normal curves of the spine, compression of the vertebrae due to bone brittleness, tumors and bone infections.

The pain pattern in lower back pains varies, depending on the root cause of the pain. Pain can be described as dull, sharp or knife - like. It can be localized in one area, or it can radiate down to your leg. The pain frequency can be continuous or intermittent. On clinical examination, lower back pain commonly manifests alterations in the way you walk and move. Walking is described as stiff. Bending at your waist and moving your back becomes difficult and limited as a result of the pain. Limping is often observed in an attempt to relieve the pain by distributing the weight away from the area of pain. Muscle tenderness of the affected area is commonly seen. In severe cases, urinary and fecal incontinence can occur. The pain pattern and intensity in the lower back varies.

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