Back Pain – Introduction

The ability to walk upright, which is distinct to us humans, puts a large amount of stress on the back. The back has the ability to withstand a considerate amount of burden and still perform its varied functions. Improper posture, lifting heavy weights, performing unaccustomed activities, and sports injuries, tend to exceed this normal tolerance, giving rise to the increasingly common symptom of back pain.

A major part of occupational work is dependent on the sound support of a healthy back. Back pain is the commonest reason to remaining absent from work and results in tremendous economic losses. The significance of this is more so felt, when a person is unable to find a permanent cure for the backache and is unfit to resume their earlier job. This happens in 10-15% cases of back pain ! Thus, it is very important to take proper care of our back and ensure that we do not fall prey to backache.

Picture 1: Para spinal Muscles of Back

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The human back is an intricate arrangement of muscles (para spinal muscles), bones (vertebrae) and cartilage (intervertebral disc), which give stability and mobility to perform several activities. Muscles of the back (Picture 1) are a potential source of back pain due to bad posture, which is the commonest cause of back pain. The vertebrae are affected by injuries, like road accidents and falls from a height; infections, tumors, and so on. The intervertebral disc’s function primarily as a shock absorber and so after repititive stress are a site for degenerative processes. A degenerated disc losses its elasticity and becomes stiff. It also bulges out towards the spinal cord and nerves (Picture 2), compressing them and causing shooting pain in the area supplied by that nerves.

Picture 2: Intervertebral disc bulging on MRI

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

This process may extend and cause complete paralysis of both lower limbs with incontinence (loss of voluntary control) of urine and stools. Thus, back pain should never be taken lightly and medical care should be sought for reaching a diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment.

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Article reviewed by Dr. Greg. Last updated on May 10, 2010