Back pain is a very common complaint. According to the Maya Physical Therapy Clinics, USA, approximately 80% of, all Americans will have low back pain at least once in their lives. Back pain is a common reason for absence from work or visiting the doctor's

1. Back Pain

2.  If you are suffering from back pain, you are not alone.
It is estimated that 25% of the people in United States
suffers from back pain at any given time. Back pain can
be acute, recurring or chronic. Back pain can be
caused by
 Degenerative disk disease
 Lumbar spinal stenosis
 Fractures
 Herniated disc
 Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis

3.  Our spine is made of 33 vertebrae that are stacked up on top of
one another. There is a rubbery piece of cartilage between these
vertebrae and is called the intervertebral disk.
 Imagine disk as a tire with gelatin kind of substance on the hole
of the tire. The tire (outer part) is called the annulus and the
gelatin type of substance is called the nucleus.
 As we age, or due to some injury, wear and tear occurs and we
start to lose gelatin type of substance and hence the volume of
the disk decreases. As a result, the space the vertebrae decreases
and the disk becomes flatter and less flexible .
 When the rough surface of the vertebral joint rub
together, inflammation occurs and may feel pain as the nerves
get compressed or irritated. It may occur throughout the spine or
may confine to one disk.

4. People who have degenerative disk in the neck usually feel
pain in the arm, shoulder or neck region. A degenerative
disk in the low back might cause pain in the back, buttocks
or legs. Most often back pain gets aggravated by sitting,
bending and reaching. The symptoms are at its peak in the
morning or it worsens by continuous sitting or standing. In
several cases, since the nerve gets compressed, it may lead
to numbness, tingling and even weakness in arms and legs.

5.  Spinal occurs when the spinal canal narrows, and as result,
the nerve roots/ the spinal cord get compressed. This will
result in pinching of nerve root/spinal cord which leads to
pain, numbness, weakness and cramping.
 Depending up on the area where the spinal stenosis
occurs, the symptoms can be felt in the lower back and
legs, neck, shoulder or arms.
 Typically, a person with spinal stenosis complains severe
pain in legs calves or lowers back while standing or
walking .Usually walking up or down a hill aggravates the
pain. The pain is often relieved by sitting or leaning
forward.

6.  As mentioned in the degenerative disk
disease the disc becomes flatter and rigid as
we age. This make is most susceptible
injury. In some case the gelatin type of the
substance (nucleus) can push through the
rubbery part and can create crack on the
rubbery part (annulus).
 Thus herniation or rupture occurs. When
the disc bugle and come out its normal
boundaries it may pinch the spinal nerves
or spinalcord. Symptoms may include
tingling, pain or numbness or combination
of any at back, buttocks or legs.
 You may find standing comfortable than
sitting. Certain activities such as bending
and reaching can worsen the pain.
Herniated
Disc

7.  Herniated disc causes narrowing of the spine. This will put
strain on joints, cartilage and ligaments. The narrowing of
the disc may result in the decreased space between the
spinal joints(facet joints).Since the shape of the disc has
change, it puts more weight bearing forces on the spinal
joints. This may result in the wear and tear of the cartilages
which covers the joints.
 Ultimately, the bone comes in to contact with one another
which causes enlarged joints, stiffness, pain and
inflammation.
 Our body tries to repair itself by growing new bones and is
called bone spur. This results in narrowing of the spine and
may result in the symptoms like pain, burning
sensation, numbness or tingling.

8. Osteoporosis occurs when the bones become porous. As
result, the bones density decreases, become weaker
and deformity of the bones occurs. It is very important
as bones become vulnerable to fractures. It can cause
spinal compression fracture of upper back or thoracic
spine

9.  If you are diagnosed with any of these
conditions, physical therapy can help you. At Maya
Physical Therapy, which serves Davie, Cooper city and
Hollywood has the most experienced physical
therapists’ that are specialized in treating back pain.
Give it a try and see the difference!