Help for back pain

Most people have experienced back pain at some point, but for many, it is a daily companion. To explain some of the causes of back pain, it is important to know a part of the anatomy of the back, as it is one of the most important areas of the body. Although it is generally referred to by a single name, the back is actually a group of different body parts. Most people probably think of the bones of the spine, which are arranged from the tailbone to the skull with spaces in between. Here we are talking about exactly 24 vertebrae: 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae. These are extremely important because their job is to surround and protect the group of nerves that run through the spinal cord. Between each of your vertebrae is a cartilage disc – also known as an intervertebral disc – which consists of a soft core and a hard ring of connective tissue. It acts as a shock absorber and allows the back to bend, stretch, and rotate smoothly.

Nerves in the Back

A rupture of the outer mass of the cartilage discs is called a herniated disc. This is not always synonymous with pain, but when the soft part presses against a nerve in the back, it can be the cause of severe pain. The nerves in the back form the spinal canal and surround those that leave the brain. Additionally, there is a group of nerves that lead from each joint in your spine to other parts of the body. From the neck, the nerves lead to the nerve groups in the arms, from the chest to the nerves in the torso, and from the lumbar area to the nerves in the legs. This is exactly why back pain can lead to pain in other parts of your body.

The nerves in your back can sometimes become pinched and cause other types of pain. These are generally described as radiating pain, burning pain, or stabbing pain. For the same reason, back pain can lead to weakness or general discomfort in both the legs and arms. Since the back is the center of a whole group of nerves, it is also possible that other organs in your body can cause back pain (e.g., inflammation or other diseases of the gallbladder, appendix, main artery, or kidneys).

Band and Muscle Pain

To hold the group of nerves, cartilage discs, and bones in the back together, there are two parts of your anatomy that are at least as important for the back: ligaments and muscles. The ligaments in your back provide stability but also have sensory nerves that send information about the position and movements of the back to your brain. The back is also surrounded by a group of muscles – a so-called “muscle corset” – consisting of pelvic floor, abdominal, and back muscles, which assist in bending or twisting. These muscles are constantly working, whether you are holding your back in a fixed position or are in motion.

Stiff joints or muscle pain in the back can also be perceived as discomfort or pain in other parts of the body. There are numerous causes of muscle and joint pain that can be treated medically or with antibiotics. These can be caused by anything from a change in your load pattern, such as overstraining the tendons, to scar tissue in the muscles, repeated muscle fiber tears, and psychological disorders, such as depression. Chiropractors, for example, believe that muscle pain is often caused by a changed function of a joint in the spine.

Unlike a herniated disc – which in the worst case requires a combination of painkillers and surgery – certain muscle and joint pains can be minimized through strength training or other forms of exercise that strengthen the joints and muscles, such as Pilates and yoga. A U.S. study from the spring of 2006 also documents and shows the connection between infrared therapy and pain relief in chronic back pain.

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