There are many products, medications, braces, diets, and exercise programs out there that address back pain.  Each year, billions of dollars are spent to resolve the problem and billions more are lost in productivity decreases.  You hurt, the people around you are hurting for you, and the company you work for is hurting financially as well.  There are no real winners in this game, except perhaps the health care industry that gets paid for something that 90% of people will complain about at sometime in their lives.  So, what is the answer to fixing back pain?  I will leave that conversation between you and your doctor.  This is simply a list of THREE THINGS that can destroy your back over the course of your life if you ignore them. 

1. Smoking - Everyone is aware of all the devastating things that smoking does to your lungs, arteries, brain, overall health, etc.  Well...here is one more!  The discs that are in your back are avascular, defined as "no blood flow."  These discs which provide the cushioning in your spine with every move you make depend on blood flow at the ends of the vertebra in your back.  When you smoke, you destroy this delicate balance that is necessary to nourish these discs.  Over time, your discs will wear away and the back, hip, and leg pain that can follow will be the result of your spinal cushions deteriorating away.  Smoking can possibly lead to every movement you make being more painful that the previous.  Something to think about....

2. Sitting All The Time - If you have a desk job and sit for 8+ hours a day, why on earth would you go home and sit for another 4+ watching TV when you body is begging you to move?  Sometimes you can feel tired or hurt because you aren't doing enough!  The spinal discs get nourishment through movement, so if you sit all day your back is starving.  Sitting actually puts more pressure on your lower spine than standing, therefore, if your job is on your feet all day your back is probably doing better than the guy in the suit working on Excel spreadsheets. 

3. Really Bad Mechanics - If you are a person that lifts with you back, defined as bending at the waist to lift a large object off the floor and return to a standing position with your legs completely straight....ouch!  The back is not designed to be the mover of the motion....it is the stabilizer of motion.  This means the back is really strong when all the parts are linked up in a nice S like curve.   Constantly lifting and turning with heavy loads from the back wears down the discs fast, creating an opportunity for a herniated disc of irreparable damage.  Maintaining a strong abdominal/lower back in conjunction with good mechanics, strong glutes, and a decent sense of balance can get the most out of the back for years to come.    

4. Weight + Gravity = Problems - This one is simple: the more you weigh the more pressure that is put every second on your spine.  To get the most life out of your back you have to maintain a healthy weight.  This goes the same for you hip, knee, and ankle joints as well.  Taking off some pounds will make you body feel better, thus, you may be more inclined to exercise, diet, and reduce the stresses in your life to keep them off.