Backache Prevention

Preliminary data indicate that smoking may contribute to low back pain. One survey of over 29,000 people reported a significant association between smoking and low back pain. Smaller people (children, women, those who weigh less) are most affected. A study involving people with herniated discs found that both current and ex-smokers are at much higher risk of developing disc disease than nonsmokers. Other research reveals 18% greater disc degeneration in the lower spines of smokers compared with nonsmokers. Smoking is thought to cause malnutrition of spinal discs, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to mechanical stress.

One survey reported that people who drank wine healed more quickly after disc surgery in the lower back than those who abstained. However, alcohol consumption may cause cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, high blood pressure, and alcoholism. As a result, many doctors never recommend alcohol even though moderate consumption has been linked to some health benefits. For those deciding whether light drinking might help with recovery from disc surgery, it is best to consult a doctor.

Regular exercise and proper lifting techniques help prevent low back problems from developing. Proper lifting involves keeping an object close to the body and avoiding bending forwarding, reaching, and twisting while lifting. Low back pain and disc degeneration are both more likely to develop among sedentary people than those who are physically active. However, long-term participation in some competitive sports may contribute to spinal disc degeneration...