Our modern lifestyle is frequently the culprit in back pain. Long hours of sitting at work, home, or in cars can lead to an imbalance between muscles that are weak and those that are chronically contracted. On top of that, tension and fatigue in back muscles are often aggravated by the stress and strain of a busy demanding life. Tight, weak or tired back muscles are vulnerable to injury anytime you overdo it, for example in the yard or at the gym.

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Small joints on the back of your of your spinal bones are a common cause of back pain. If these joints are not moving right, they can cause much pain.

 

The discs (“shock absorbers”) between spinal bones can also produce back pain. Trauma, and other activities like lifting, can cause these discs to bulge, and press on adjacent nerves.

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Once you know the cause, you have several choices. One approach is bed rest; however prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and make the problem worse. Physical therapy is another option. But exercising spinal joints that aren’t working right is like continuing to drive your car with misaligned tires.

 

Another is to numb or cover up the pain with drugs. While this offers temporary relief, they can’t correct the functional problems of your spine.The most drastic measure is surgery.​

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