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Many people throughout Australia, and indeed the world, suffer from back pain, making it one of the most common physical complaints globally. While back pain can be detrimental to our lives in general, many of us choose to simply put up with it, or try and ignore it until it goes away.
Unfortunately, though, ignoring back pain is never a good idea, and here are some of the reasons why:
· It can become chronic
One of the main dangers of ignoring back pain is that over time, it can become chronic. Pain that lasts for more than 3 months is deemed to be chronic, and this type of pain can have a significant impact on your overall quality of life, and even make it hard for you to function on an everyday basis.
· It can lead to psychological problems
As with any form of pain that won’t go away, it can lead to psychological problems; depression and anxiety being 2 among many.
· It can lead to further injury
Another peril of failing to seek treatment for back pain is that it can lead to further injury. If your back is hurting, it’s important to take preventive measures to protect you from injuring it further, and this includes avoiding any activities that might aggravate your pain. You should also try to use correct posture and techniques when lifting heavy (or any, in fact) objects.
Failing to address back pain could even cause further damage to your spine or other structures in your back, so it really is imperative that you seek help from a registered medical practitioner to diagnose the cause of your pain, and then seek treatment, which may include massage from a trained therapist.
What are some of the most common causes of back pain?
While there can be many causes of back pain (too many to list here), some are more common than others, such as the following:
Muscular strains and sprains – typically the most common cause of back pain, this often occurs after a heavy object has been lifted or an activity has been participated in that strained the muscles in the back.
Disc problems – acting as cushions between the vertebrae, discs can be incredibly painful when damaged or degraded.
Arthritis – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are just 2 examples of arthritic conditions that can cause back pain, especially in older adults.
Pinched nerves – often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur, pinched nerves happen when the spine is compressed.
Spinal stenosis – causing pressure on the nerves, spinal stenosis is when the spinal canal narrows, and can be very painful.
Scoliosis – this condition is when the spine curves abnormally.
Back injuries – fractures, herniated discs and a wide range of other injuries are often responsible for damaging the spine and/or surrounding tissues.
Some other conditions can also cause back pain, such as kidney stones, endometriosis and fibromyalgia.
Back pain may be something that you’re able to ignore, but should you?
Often debilitating and interfering with your daily life, back pain should never be ignored, not least because you don’t deserve to suffer in silence. Seek a medical diagnosis before treating the cause of your pain, which may or may not involve physiotherapy and massage.
Related Link: Benefits of Seeking Professional Treatment For Back Pain Management
