There are many different causes of mid back pain. All of which can inflict a great deal of pain and discomfort on an individual and can be very disruptive to normal daily life, in fact, thousands of working days are lost each year due to employees taking time off with back problems. One of the most frequently seen types of back injury is damage to discs or a degenerative disc problems. So in laypersons language what does this mean?

Disc degeneration is caused when the size of the gap between vertebrae is reduced because the water which acts as a cushion has been lost and the nerve becomes trapped between vertebrae.

A ruptured disc can be a very serious back problem, when this occurs a jelly like material is leaked. The name for this is nucleus puposus.

Another disc problem which is actually quite common is a bulging disc. When this condition is prevalent discs can be seen bulging from the back as our spine supports our full body weight as we go about everyday life. In most cases these discs return to their normal position as we rest at night in bed.

The causes of mid are many but the most common cause is related to poor posture when sitting and standing, particularly if we are in the same position over a long period of time. Working at a desk all day long sitting in a chair which does not give proper back support is also a cause. There is one very common cause of mid that many people are unaware of. Anxiety and stress which in turn cause muscles to become tense and stiff can result in backache which is both painful and uncomfortable..

The type of activity which we are carrying out when mid strikes can give a very good indication to the type of injury we have sustained. which is triggered by performing everyday tasks which include the usual bending, twisting and stretching is most likely due to pulling a muscle or a slipped disk. Muscle pain is usually attributed to lifting heavy objects in the wrong way or if physical exercise is too vigorous when one is not accustomed to it. It is also possible to suffer from mid as the result of a fractured rib with the pain affecting the chest as well. This type of injury is often the result of an accident of some type, it can however, be a symptom of osteoporosis. A cause which you may not connect with mid is a kidney infection. Other symptoms of a kidney infection would be discomfort whilst visiting the loo.

Our mobility and agility to carry out every day tasks is very often taken for granted by all of us. Mid can put an end to what we know as "normal" life. Therefore it is essential that we take care of our back by taking gentle exercise and maintaining an acceptable body weight through a balanced diet. If we do this hopefully mid will never be a problem we have to deal with.

Mid which increases in intensity after a meal is fairly common and is caused by a stomach ulcer.

Scotie Keithlow