Your back stretches from the neck to pelvis and consists of bone, muscle, spinal cord, joints and other tissue. And back problems, especially back pain, is a very common health complaint which can significantly interfere with your quality of life.
There are numerous back injury, back disorder or back disease causes for back problems. Some of these causes are:
- myelitis
- scoliosis
- whiplash
- bone spurs
- spinal tumor
- osteoporosis
- spinal stroke
- osteoarthritis
- pinched nerve
- herniated disk
- spinal stenosis
- spinal infection
- spondyloarthritis
- spinal cord injury
- disk degeneration
- fractured vertebrae
- rheumatoid arthritis
- facet joint syndrome
- cervical spondylosis
- spinal cord infarction
- ankylosing spondylitis
- spinal cord compression
- muscle strain, tear, tightness, spasm, inflammation, fatigue
Many of these back problems will likely cause you pain and limited movement.
Treatment varies depending on which back injury, back disorder or back disease you experience. However for most back problems, treatment relief may be gained via some combination of:
- ice
- heat
- analgesics
- massaging
- warm compress
- physical therapy
- anti inflammatory drugs
In a small percentage of back problem cases, back surgery may be necessary.
Some back injury, back disorder and back disease causes for back problems might be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, lifting with your legs and using a back support.