Back aches, mental health issues

People with back problems are more likely to report psychological distress and mental disorders than people without back problems, according to new information released this week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The web based snapshot on back problems shows one in 11 Australians had back problems in 2007–08.

The chronic and pervasive nature of back problems often leads to poorer quality of life, psychological distress, mental disorders and disability.

Elderly people with back pain most commonly have uncomplicated mechanical lower back pain. The discomfort tends to worsen with stretching, twisting, walking or bending. As people age, their bodies will have many degenerativeeffects which are the major reasons for back pain in the majority of people.

Back pain in elderly people may be as a result of the following:

• Osteoporosis weakening the bones, creating pores in them. Osteophytes may compress nerve roots and encroach on the spinal canal.
• Arthritis  causing severe pain in many parts of the body including the spine.
• Neurological impairment.
• Spinal arthritis may or may not cause pain. Spinal stenosis can also cause neurological impairment.
• Over-use of weak joints.
• The inflammation of a fluid-filled cushion within the hip bone  causing hip pain.

According to AIHW spokesperson, Louise York, affective mental disorders, such as depression, are particularly common among people with back problems.

“People with back problems are 2.5 times as likely to report having affective disorders, 1.8 times as likely to report an anxiety disorder and 1.3 times as likely to report a substance use disorder as people without back problems.

“They are also 1.2 times as likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress and more likely to rate their health status as fair or poor,” she says.

Back problems can also cause activity limitations. People with back problems were 3.4 times as likely to report some form of limitation in their basic daily activities, including selfcare (for example, dressing or toileting) and mobility (for example, getting into and out of a bed, chair or car), compared to those without a back condition.

“Out of the 44% of people with back problems who also reported activity limitations, about two-thirds reported mild to moderate core limitations, and about one-third reported severe or profound activity limitations.”

Do you, or someone you know, suffer from back pain? Share your experiences by commenting in the box below.