Medical causes of back pain 2

In between each of these individual vertebrae you will find a small disc
which is made up of a tough outer coating (the annulus), and a gel-like
central interior (the nucleus pulposus). These discs are designed to act
as ‘shock absorbers’ between each of the vertebrae which in turn
enables your spine to flex, bend and move in a controlled manner while
not causing you any discomfort or pain (under normal circumstances).
Quite clearly however, if any of the ‘shock absorbing’ discs have a
problem, then the vertebrae of your spine are likely to knock together
or jar one another, and this will often cause a great deal of pain.
One disc related condition that you may suffer from is a slipped disc.
This happens when the soft gel like interior of the disc pushes itself out
through the tough outer coating - with two possible results, either of
which may (but may not) cause you pain. Firstly, you no longer have a
‘shock absorber’ between your vertebrae, and secondly, the escaped
gel-like substance may put additional pressure on your spinal-cord or
the nerve cells in that area, in which case, you will undoubtedly feel a
great deal of pain.
However, it is important to note that, whether you feel pain or not, if
the nucleus pulposus has escaped from a disc in your spine, then you
have a slipped disc, irrespective of whether there is any pain or not.
Sometimes, you will suffer what is known as a ruptured (or herniated)
disk which is pretty much the same as happens with a slipped disc.
However, the phrase is most commonly used in connection with the
lumbar and cervical vertebrae, primarily the former.
These are the five vertebrae that do most of the supporting work of the
spine, and consequently the pressure on these particular vertebrae is
considerable.
Again, you have a ruptured lumber disc when the soft gel-like
substance from inside the disc escapes through the tough outer coating
of the disc.
As we get older, the discs in our spine become less pliable, so it
therefore becomes increasingly likely that you will suffer a slipped or
ruptured disc.
Chronic back pain.