Chronic back pain can have several causes. Cases of chronic back pain have been found to have their roots in physical problems that range from serious to very serious. Sometimes surgery is the answer. For others, surgery may not bring relief. Some cases of chronic back pain are irreversible, even with surgery. Whatever your case, you want to learn effective ways of reducing your pain, and maintaining it at minimal levels.

Chronic Back Pain: Spelling Out Relief

These ABCs will help you spell out relief on your own.

1. You will want to exercise all of your body’s muscles carefully, helping them stretch and increase strength. Include your back muscles, but work carefully and slowly. As you increase the health and strength of your muscles, your entire body will be better equipped to reduce your chronic back pain. As each muscle becomes more relaxed, you lessen the stress and added pressure on your damaged back, reducing the pain you felt. Muscles that are consistently stretched and toned are your offense against the feelings of pain. These positive steps should make the pain less intense.

2. You will want to avoid activities that agitate your chronic back pain. Actions such as lifting and carrying heavy items may cause further damage to the back area. There are proper techniques for both actions, whether your back is painful or pain-free. Learn them and use them. You will reduce the risk of causing further damage with potentially more serious complications.

3. You will want to aggressively fight off depression. Chronic back pain is often accompanied by depression. You probably know that the longer you live in constant pain, the more you are likely to feel down. Your movements are restricted, as is your participation in life’s activities. The pain becomes emotional as well as physical. You may want to ask your doctor about prescription medications for this problem. More importantly, work to find things that cause you to laugh. Read an amusing book. Watch easy-going, comical television shows.

Above all, take your chronic back pain problem to a good physician, and follow his or her advice. Physicians have many ways to reduce and control both the intensity of your pain and its frequency.

Information on Back Pain – The Need

Information on back pain was limited in the days of yesteryear. People were busy using their backs for manual labor, not learning about what caused back pain. Information about back pain was fine for doctors, but others had little interest in it.

In this day of computer knowledge at the click of a mouse, that has changed. Information on back pain is not only readily available, but people need it more. The same computer that offers the information keeps them at their desks, in sedentary lifestyles that encourage back pain.

Information on Back Pain Begins with The Back

What is your back? In simple terms, your back is a combination of bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. The bones form your backbone – your spine. Picture the spine as a stack of bones. Between the bones are cushioning discs. Ligaments and tendons hold everything in place, and provide movement. Up and down the spine run nerves that carry messages to and from the brain.

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain is common – one of the most common reasons for doctor office visits. Its causes are one of the most important bits of information on back pain you will need. Usually, it will be a pulled muscle due to:

* Incorrect posture
* Incorrect lifting technique
* Prolonged sitting
* Lack of exercise
* Obesity

Your muscles work to keep your spine straight. If you fight those muscles with one of the above, you may pull them, causing back pain.

Back pain may be caused by more serious things such as injured discs, but the most common injuries are pulled muscles.

Does Back Pain Require a Doctor?

Information on back pain would be lacking if it failed to point out that a doctor may be necessary. Rest for a day or two, alternating heating pad and ice pack. If your pain is no less, it is time to see a doctor.

Choose a reputable physician who can properly diagnose and treat your back pain. Ask him or her to give you information on back pain that will help prevent future injury.

Back Pain Prevention

Professional health care providers encourage a healthy lifestyle for back pain prevention. They may tell you that the best information on back pain they can give is that you should exercise. The second best information on back pain is to practice safety and good posture.

Types of Antacids

The active ingredients of antacids are alkaline substances that neutralize acid. These ingredients vary from one brand to another.

Over-the Counter (OTC) Antacids

OTC antacids cause back pain through one or more of the following:

1. Sodium: Sodium can cause a build up of fluid in body tissues. This build up can cause pressure on nerves in the back, especially the lower back. By compressing nerves through this pressure, antacids cause back pain. Alka-Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, Gaviscon, and baking soda contain sodium, and should not be taken if you have high blood pressure.

2. Calcium: Calcium-based antacids can, according to the USFDA, cause kidney stones, one symptom of which is severe back pain. Heavy and extended use of antacids containing calcium may clog kidneys, reduce the amount of blood they can process, and cause kidney stones. Via the kidneys, calcium-containing antacids cause back pain. Tums, Mylanta, and Maalox are examples of antacids containing calcium.

3. Magnesium: Magnesium is usually used in combination with calcium or aluminum. The USFDA says magnesium taken for a prolonged period may cause kidney stones, especially if kidneys are functioning improperly to begin with. Again, it is possible that antacids cause back pain via the kidneys. Maalox, Mylanta, Camalox, and Riopan are examples of magnesium-containing antacids.

4. Aluminum: According to the USFDA, antacids with aluminum can weaken the bones. Extended or heavy use may make these antacids cause back pain through their effect on vertebrae. Back pain is especially likely if you have kidney disease. Rolaids and Amphogel are two examples of this group of antacids.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription antacids, such as Prilosec, often have side-effects of their own. Some of these antacids cause back pain more quickly than OTC drugs. In addition, OTC antacids cause back pain when taken in combination with prescription medications for other medical concerns. Check with your doctor.

Back Pain from Antacids Is Not Usual

Antacids cause back pain for only a minority. It is unusual for healthy individuals to experience this when taking antacids as directed.

* Antacids cause back pain more frequently when taken in large doses.
* Antacids cause back pain more frequently when taken for long periods.

You should not take any antacid for more than two weeks unless instructed otherwise by a doctor. Antacids should be used only occasionally, for temporary relief from heartburn.

There can be a link, however between the digestive system and back pain.

Back Pain Like Heart Pain

As you swallow food or liquid, your digestive system produces back pain similar to that of heart disease. It feels like a burning fire in your back. Such back pain may indicate that you have a problem with the muscles of your esophagus. There may be damage to the inner lining of the esophagus, an infection, or tumors. Tell your physician about the connection between the digestive system and the back pain.

Back Pain from Gall Bladder

Another digestive system problem than can cause back pain is a gall bladder attack. Although usually felt just below the ribs on the right side, a gall bladder attack can cause shoulder or back pain as well. The pain may be sharp, centered between the shoulder blades. Again, the person may believe it is related to heart disease. A thorough examination is needed for diagnosis.

Back Pain from Constipation

Constipation of the digestive system and back pain often go hand in hand, as anyone who has experienced severe constipation will tell you. Such constipation will usually involve infrequent stools or hard stools that are difficult to pass. The swollen colon presses on nerves in the back, causing back pain. While such back pain may be of little import, it may signify major medical concerns. You should ask a doctor.

Back Pain with Peptic Ulcers

Parts of the digestive system can develop ulcers, called peptic ulcers. A peptic ulcer can spread to an adjacent organ such as the liver or pancreas. This is called penetration, and often manifests itself by back pain in the lower back. A physical examination is needed.

The body’s systems are all interwoven in an amazing fashion, and the real source of back pain is not always easy to determine. At times, it is minor, and will resolve itself. At other times, it may be a symptom of something as life-threatening as cancer.

It is important that you see your physician to determine the source of your back pain.

The truth is that arthritis can cause back pain long before retirement age. Arthritis has many forms – more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions are classified as types of arthritis. Of them, osteoarthritis may be the only one that is most likely to wait for the golden years to issue forth in back pain.

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of any joint in the body. It affects not only the joints themselves, but also the tissue that surround the joints, and other connective tissue. The symptoms of arthritis are usually pain and stiffness in and around the joint. You may have arthritis for years, however, before you begin to notice the pain.

Spinal arthritis has three main types. A brief description of each follows.

1. Ankolyzing Spondylitis: This chronic form of arthritis affects the spine and the sacroiliac joint where the spine meets the pelvis. It can also cause back pain in shoulders and hips. Severe cases of ankolyzing spondylitis may result in bone spurs being formed on the vertebrae. Bone spurs can fuse vertebrae together. When this occurs, the spine becomes rigid. The back pain sufferer loses a great deal of mobility. That is, he or she cannot move freely. Not reserved for the elderly, the back pain of ankolyzing spondylitis is most often first diagnosed in young men, usually younger than 35 years of age.

2. Osteoarthritis: This is the most common form of arthritis. The back pain of osteoarthritis usually strikes after the age of 40. From that age upward, osteoarthritis becomes increasingly common. Osteoarthritis is a disease in which the cartilage that cushions bones’ end at the joints wears away. The bones no longer have the protection they had. As they rub together, inflammation and back pain result, accompanied by stiffness. Bone spurs may also form. These bone spurs can break off and float around within the joint. This causes more damage and back pain. Over time, the joint may become misshapen. People with osteoarthritis of the spine have back pain in spinal joints and limited movement.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Here is a type of arthritis that can strike the spine, causing back pain, at any age. Rheumatoid arthritis begins when the body’s immune system attacks the synovial membrane – the tissue that lines joints. This attack occurs when the body sends white blood cells to synovium. The thin synovium responds by becoming thick. This thickening of tissue causes the joint to become swollen and puffy to the touch. Back pain and inflammation result. An inflamed synovium leads to the wearing away of cartilage and bone in the joint. Gradually, other tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons weaken. The joint has less support, causing further back pain. Rheumatoid arthritis causes not only back pain, but also fatigue and fevers. It usually begins in middle age, and is more common in women than in men.

Treating Arthritis

Physicians normally treat arthritis with medication. A back pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medication is the first line of treatment. OTC internal back pain relievers include aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. External back pain relievers include creams such as Zostrix, Icy Hot, and Ben Gay. More severe arthritis back pain may be treated with prescription medication. Exercises should be used to increase range of motion.

CAUTION: The information given here is for educational purposes only. Please seek a physician’s advice for any chronic back pain.