You’re Not “Getting Old”, It’s Just Your Back! - part 1 of 2

Following on from my previous article discussing how to reduce back pain, it thought it would be worthwhile to discuss the topic, 'You are only as old as you feel'.

At the time of writing this, I'm standing at the Trafford Center giving nutrition advice and surrounded by kids playing Oculus computer games. Well, I guess if it gets them active, I'm a fan!

Lots of people nowadays assume that back pain is related to the fact that they are growing old.

Time could definitely set such a scar on our bodies, but that is not always the issue.

In general, back pain is the result of spinal joints, muscles, discs, nerves not quite fitting and moving together.

The reasons for this are quite a few, and here we will talk about the causes and treatments that are available to us.

Ready to get back on track? Let’s get to it!

Your Spine Is Amazing

So let’s first talk about the guest of honor - the spine. The spine is a stack of 24 bones called the “vertebrae”.

A healthy-looking spine is “S” shaped when viewed from the side. It curves back at your shoulders and inward at your neck, and a little at your back.

It offers safe living conditions to your spinal cord - Think of your spinal cord as a network of nerves that transmits feelings and controls the movement around your whole body.

The most common back pain is related to the band of muscles surrounding the spine.

People usually attend to their doctors for help because of lower back pain and pain in the neck.

What Are The Risk Factors?

It's a good idea to clear the air about some of the most common misconceptions regarding back pain.

The first, and most related, is age. As we get older, around 30 - 40 years old, back pain becomes more and more common. As I've just hit the big 4 0, I can certainly relate.

That doesn’t mean that it’s the only age period in which it happens. Children and teens can suffer from different types of back-related pain, depending on their lifestyle and exercise routines.

Lack of exercise is the next risk factor. Weak and unused muscles in the back and abdomen tend to be the culprit for regular pain.

Another common factor is excess weight and various diseases. However, we tend to overlook that being overweight or having a cold may lead to lower back pain.

In one case, the muscles cannot comprehend the amount of excess weight and fat and fail to function properly.

In the other case, when our immune system weakens, the muscles weaken, as well. This is all stress for the spine, and the results may leave us confused as to why it hurts.

For gym fanatics, the possibility of waking up with a sore back is improper weight lifting. When we lift with our back and not our knees, there is a huge chance we will get hurt.

Not to mention that lifting more than our body can endure is a pure gamble with our body’s health.

Stress, depression, and anxiety are quite the common factors for having problems with your back.

Smoking is a fairly not-so-popular factor when it comes to why it hurts. The reason is coughing, which could lead to herniated disks. 

It also decreases blood flow to the spine and increases the chance of osteoporosis.

It’s No Joke!

Back pain can quickly leave you paralysed. Therefore, one should not take the matter lightly because the consequences could be dire.

It is suggested that we should rush off to the doctor if we have uncontrolled urination and bowel movement.

This is one of the first signs you are going to endure when the problem is severe.

Falling or bruising your back is an absolute risk hazard. Your doctor will have his way with you if you don’t act quickly.

Another sign that your back is in trouble is when it interferes with your daily activities and doesn’t go away for more than six weeks.

Let’s be honest. If it hurts when you bend over or haven’t stopped hurting for the last month and a half, It’s a clear sign you should act right now.

Final Thoughts

So what is it that you can actually do for your back to make your spine happy and healthy?

Well, the truth is that if the problem is severe, you should go to a professional because reading an article online won’t quite simply resolve a chronic/severe injury.

However, if you are aware of the possibility of back pains and are willing to do everything to prevent it, or are simply trying to treat minor discomfort, head to part 2 of this article series, where we go in-depth on the factors affecting your back!

See you tomorrow for part 2! Enjoy your Sunday.