The Dynamics of Back Pain - Essay Example

? Chronic Lower back Pain in Adults Introduction Back pain cannot be defined as a diagnostic entity, or as a disease. It is what it is, pain or discomfort, varied in duration, in the lower back. Chronic back pain is a condition of low back pain, which persists beyond a period that is expected for tissue repair, which is three months. Lower back area problems are increasing at a significant rate, most probably due to pressures on adult individuals, from within themselves and from their environment. Back pains have afflicted man for a long time since man is dependent on his back to do work (Taylor, 2003). His back supports his torso and head, which are vital, on top of being heavy. Therefore, man has to understand this affliction and try to remedy it before it cripples a sizeable swathe of productive adults (Taylor, 2003). This paper aims to delve into the dynamics of back pain and how these variables, such as biological factors, psychological factors and socio-economic factors, interrelate and cause chronic back pains amongst the population of adults. Chronic Back Pain in Adults A research conducted in Australia between 2004 and 2005 indicated that chronic back pain afflicts approximately 8 in 10 people (Marcus, 2009). This report also indicated that approximately 11.4 percent of Australian aged 30 years and over had chronic back pains. A self-report data released by National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey also indicated that chronic back pain was more dominant is adults than children and the youths (Koopman et al, 2003). There are various types of back pain. The one that is most common is non-specific back pain, classed under that category because the cause of the pain is not usually clear, therefore; the problem can not be specifically diagnosed, with the pain severity ranging from severe to mild (Marcus, 2009). Sciatica, or pain of the nerve root, is the other class of chronic back pain. It occurs in approximately one out of every 20 cases of back pain, resulting from a nerve extruding from the cord being pressed upon, or irritated. The causative agent of this disease has to do with disc prolapsing. Manifestation of the disorder comes about with leg pains much worse than the back pains (Marcus, 2009). Factors Influencing the Development of Chronic Back Problem in Adults Biological factors Various biological factors cause back pains. The first one is genetics (Taylor, 2003). Back pain could result from being predisposed to them hereditarily. They are transferable through generations via genes. Some disorders that are hereditary and which may cause back pain are osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and osteoarthritis, which develops as on grows older. The degenerative narrowing of disc height is the most prevalent genetic manifestation that causes back pain. However, disc generation is but one of the pathways through which genetics applies influence on the occurrence of back pain. Age is another biological cause of back pain (Loney & Stratford, 1999). Age causes the inter-vertebrae disks to wear and shrink. As the bones begin to rub on each other, there is a generation of stiffness and pain manifested as back pain. It also causes the space encasing the spinal cord to narrow, spinal stenosis, applying pressure to the spinal nerves and the cord and causing pain. Gender is another factor (Taylor, 2003). Women complain more about back pains than men do. This is attributed to the increased curve in women of the lower back, which applies more pressure to her back. Another factor that this is attributable to is the weight of the woman’s bust. Women with bigger bust measurements suffer from stress to the back muscles. Injury to the back causes pain and/or discomfort, which when tied to slowed tissue repair from other biological factors like age, may lead to chronic back pain (Kassan, 2011). This could range from shock to the back, like in an accident, to injuries to other parts of the body that may cause pain to be reflected in the back. This could be an injury to the upper spinal vertebrae or even the chest. These injuries are caused by use of back muscles for activities that are not done often, like doing manual labor or even lifting heavy objects. Minor back injuries may also result from falling over short distances, tripping, or even extensive spine twisting (Hoffman, 2007). Psychological Causes Psychological factors often have a significant role in coping up with, and development of, chronic pain of the lower back. Anxiety, pre-existing depression, and stress coupled with a distinct lack of coping skills that are effective have the ability to predispose one to suffrage of back pain. Having a variety of strategies to help one cope, an individual’s belief in his/her inherent ability to control the suffering and pain, added to their catastrophization levels regarding their condition has been strongly linked with the ability to adjust healthily to their condition. This holds true for both their families and their patients. It is believed by some that these psychological factors are a primary, back pain cause. Distress can be an aggravator of back pain, whether it is secondary to pain or to physical restriction, and may lead to increased pain, leading to disability (Carey et al, 1995). This can lead to a vicious cycle being initiated, where stress leads to pain, and pain leads to stress, both leading to the production of more stress, depression and/or anxiety. This, in turn, leads to more pain and strain of the low back (Rashiq, 2008). The occurrence of back pain impacts on an individual’s quality of life added to the effect it has on his family. This, however, can help in attainment of a “secondary gain”, despite the fact that it is a disruptive influence (Koopman et al, 2003). This is a situation where a patient gains an advantage from his or her illness, including family support, increased attention, or disability from work. The effective address of these issues, during the treatment of chronic pains of the lower back, is a useful part of the treatment. Psychologically induced pain syndrome is a condition that causes other situations like headaches, irritable bowels, allergies, carpal tunnel, on top of chronic pains in the lower back (Koopman et al, 2003). Socio-Cultural Factors (family & individual) Chronic back pain and work have been linked by studies (Stannard, 2011). Adults who perform strenuous duties at work like lifting or pushing are more likely to suffer from back pain. Back pain also causes unemployment, which leads to stress. Stress is itself, another major cause of back pain. This has to do with its interference with brain activity, reducing blood flow to various parts of the body (Moore & Paice, 2009). Poor people are also more liable to suffer from back pain. This also has to do with stress, and poor nutrition. This slows down the rate of bone replacement, slowing down recovery from back pains, causing chronic back pains. In order to recover from back pain, victims require social support, which may lessen pains (Andersson, 1999). Lack of this social support may lead to psychological problems, which manifest themselves as back pain. Back pains, in fact, cause the victim to come closer to their social circle, and grants them more attention. This has been proven to be a cure for back pain (Rashiq, 2008). Wealth and power is another factor that affects back pain affliction (Rashiq, 2008). Several factors that cause back pain accumulate in social groups differentially such that those born into successively poorer social classes have, by adulthood, experienced biological and psychological risks, have less education, worse health conditions, and poorer working conditions. Variation of back pain susceptibility can be explained by systematic differences in obstacles, opportunities, and experiences, which accumulate risk. Conclusion Chronic back pain afflicts adults in various stages of their life. It is not assuredly curable via conventional medicine, since it is not a disease in the real sense of the word. It is simply a discomfort in the lower back. If this pain lasts for more than three months, it is referred to as chronic back pain, resulting from a lack of tissue healing. This slow tissue healing can be caused by any of these factors. Biological factors are one of them, with age, gender, and genetics the main culprits. Psychological factors are another cause of lower back pain, including anxiety, depression, and poor coping strategies. These factors are overlapping, like work, unemployment and pain. Social-cultural factors are another significant contributor to back pain. Unemployment, work, poverty, and food all affect the occurrence of back pain. Some are even affected by the back pain. Coping with the pain is the biggest problem with these pains and may lead to their worsening. References Andersson G. (1999). Epidemiological features of chronic low-back pain. The Lancet , 581-585. Carey, T. S, Evans A, Hadler N. (1995). Care-seeking among individuals with chronic low back pain. Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. , 312-317. Frymoyer, J. W, Wiesel, S. W. (2004). The adult and pediatric spine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hoffman, B. M, (2007). 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Family medicine: principles and practice. New York: Springer. Read More