If you are old, walk funny or with a cane or walker, or lean forwards, backwards, to one side or onto your caregiver; if you wear a permanent expression of agony accompanied by short audible gasps, you’ve got back pain. Now all you have to do is identify which brand of pain it is that’s bothering you and you can start looking for a cure. It’s easy, and there are a million experts out there waiting to help you… Here’s your personal back pain menu to help you get started:
Sciatica: This pain affects the back, hip, and outer side of the leg and is caused by compression of a spinal nerve root in the lower back, often owing to degeneration of an intervertebral disk. Result: Pain.
Herniated disc: This condition affects the spine in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion to bulge out beyond the damaged outer rings. Disc herniation is usually due to age related degeneration of the spine. Result: Pain.
Strain: An injury to a part of the body caused by over-exertion or twisting a muscle awkwardly. Result: Pain.
Arthritis: Painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Result (from all 100 forms of arthritis): Pain.
Spinal stenosis
Condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. Result: Pain.
That’s it. It’s easy; anyone can now tell what’s troubling them. So go and get cured…