What Is Causing My Back Pain?

While only a trained medical professional can accurately diagnose your back problems and recommend appropriate treatment, a basic understanding of common causes of back pain and how VAX-D works to alleviate them can help you in making a more informed decision concerning your treatment options.

Understanding How the Spine Works
Your spine is composed of 24 bones called vertebrae. In between each vertebra is a fibrous disc (annulus fibrosus) filled with a jelly-like substance (nucleus pulposus), which provides flexibility and cushioning to the spine.

The vertebrae protect the spinal cord, which runs through a tube at the back of the spine called the spinal canal. In the lower portion of the back, spinal nerves exit the spinal canal between the vertebrae and unite as they move down through the pelvis. Some of these spinal nerves join to become the sciatic nerves, which travel down through the buttocks, along the backs and sides of the thighs and calves, and into the feet.

With such a dense network of nerves traveling throughout the back, it is easy to see how great discomfort may be caused by a slight upset in the delicate architecture of the spine. Accidents and injury may damage discs and vertebrae, putting pressure on nerves. This results in tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or even sharp, shooting pain.

Shown in the illustration below are some of the more common diagnoses for back pain that will be covered at length in the coming pages.

Lift with Your legs, Not with Your Back!
Many bulging and herniated discs can be attributed to lifting objects incorrectly. When picking up an object from the floor, bend at the knees, keeping the spine as erect as possible. Rise using the strength of your legs, as their sturdy, more simplistic architecture is designed for such exertions. Putting great amounts of pull or pressure on the spine, when bent forward or backward, can compromise its delicate alignment.

Of course, there is no right way to lift an object that is simply too heavy. Listen to your body, and if you feel any discomfort while doing heavy lifting, back off and save your back!

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