Ayurved Life

            Back pain affects 90% of people at some time in their lives and is the leading cause of visits to the doctor.

The Causes of Back Pain

The most common causes of low back pain are:

Pinched Nerves -

       Pressure or impingement on nerve roots in the spinal canal can be cause pain 

Herniated Disc -

      A herniated disc, (also called bulging disc or slipped disc) is a rupture often brought on by repeated vibration or motion (as during machine use or sport activity, or when lifting improperly), or by a sudden heavy strain or increased pressure to the lower back. Back pain and leg pain can result when the herniated disc pinches one of the nerves. A herniated disc in the lumbar region can affect the nerves, which runs from your spinal cord to your leg. Compression or inflammation of this nerve causes sciatica - a sharp, shooting pain in your lower back, buttocks and leg.

Degenerative Disc Disease-

      As our age increase, the water and protein content of the body's cartilage changes. This change results in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. Because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). The gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease.

Bone Spurs-

      It also termed osteophytes. Osteophytes may be found in areas affected by arthritis such as the disc or joint spaces where cartilage has deteriorated. The body's production of osteophytes is a futile attempt to stop the motion of the arthritic joint and deal with the degenerative process. It never completely works. The evidence of bony deposits can be found on an x-ray or MRI. A bone spur may cause nerve impingement at the neuroforamen . The neuroforamen are passageways through which the nerve roots exit the spinal canal. Sensory symptoms include pain, numbness, burning and pins and needles in the extremities below the affected spinal nerve root. Motor symptoms include muscle spasm, cramping, weakness, or loss of muscular control in a part of the body.

Spinal Stenosis

      Spinal stenosis  is the narrowing of the spinal canal by a piece of bone, ligamentus flavus thickening or disc material. This can cause weakness in your extremities and typically develops with age.

Osteoporosis-

       Osteoporosis which means "porous bones," causes bones to become weak and brittle - so brittle that even mild stresses like bending over, lifting a vacuum cleaner or coughing can cause a fracture. In most cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals in your bones. The pain from an osteoporotic spinal fracture can last for several weeks as the bone heals, and then typically turns into more of a chronic, pain concentrated in the area of the back where the fracture occurred. This aching may be similar to the sensation reported by those with osteoarthritis. A bone density test, which measures bone mass, preferably taken of both a long bone and a vertebral body, is used to diagnose osteoporosis.

Osteoarthritis

         Osteoarthritis or Facet Disease is a degenerative joint condition that causes slow deterioration of cartilage. Osteoarthritis of the spine results in narrowed cartilage disks between the bones that make up your backbone. Without this cartilage cushioning, the joints (facets) between adjacent bones compress and become irregular, causing inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness. Your body tries to compensate for this form of arthritis, but the repairs are often inadequate, resulting in little growths of additional bone called bone spurs.

Cervical spondylosis

        Cervical spondylosis is a common condition that results from degeneration (osteoarthritis) of the bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). This can lead to increasing pain in the neck and arm, weakness, and changes in sensation.

Spinal deformities  

       Spinal deformities such as scoliosis, which is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Most cases are mild, but severe cases may require treatment. Small injury to a muscle (strain) or a ligament (sprain) from improper lifting, excess body weight and poor posture. Strains and sprains can also develop from carrying heavy handbags or briefcases or sleeping in an awkward position.Compression fractures, more common among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, or after long-term corticosteroid use. In a person with osteoporosis, even a small amount of force put on the spine, as from a sneeze, may cause a compression fracture.Fractures of the vertebrae caused by significant force (as from an auto or bicycle accident, a direct blow to the spine, or compressing the spine by falling onto the buttocks or head).Most pain in the low back (lumbar region) is triggered by some combination of overuse, muscle strain, or injury to the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. Many experts believe that over time, chronic muscle strain can lead to an overall imbalance in the spinal structure. This leads to a constant tension on the muscles, ligaments, bones, and discs, making the back more prone to injury or re-injury. The causes of low back pain tend to be interrelated. For example, after straining muscles, you are likely to use your back differently than usual. As other parts of your back work harder or move in unaccustomed ways to make up for the injured muscles, they also become more prone to injury.

Common causes of numbness include the following:

·        .Radiculopathy - A pinched nerve due to a herniated disc.

·        Stenosis - A narrowing of the spinal canal, which can compress sensory nerve fibers causing loss of sensation.

·        Multiple Sclerosis

·        Stroke, and

·        Diabetes