Lower back pain is a common worry amongst the majority of people at some point in their lives. Fifty percent of the population suffers from it multiple times. Lower back pain is not a particular disease but rather a symptom indicating some underlying condition. Even studies of patients dealing with this symptom, they were not able to come up with a specific reason or cause for the pain. In the U.S. alone, they spend about fifty billion dollars per year on lower back pain causes and treatment.
Lower back pain may have a number of core reasons but oftentimes there is no particular cause to be found. This article presents the causes, diagnosis and treatments of lower back pain. Not everything may be identified here, so if you have concerns regarding lower back pain which are not mentioned here, you should be open about it to your doctor so that they will be able to determine the right treatment for you.
Some facts about lower back pain:
• Lower back pain is the second topmost concern, next only to common cold, which causes people to be absent from work. It is also a common symptom that gives way to visits to the doctor or the emergency room of the hospital. It is, likewise, the second most complained symptom, next to headache.
• Doctors commonly refer to lower back pains as acute if the symptom has been lingering for about a month already. It is identified by as chronic if continues longer.
Lower back pain causes
Lower back pain is considered by many as a symptom. The usual causes for it are related to injury or disease associated with the bones, muscles or nerves located on the spine. Pain that comes from other parts such as the chest, pelvis or abdomen, may also affect the lower back, rendering it painful. This is known as referred pain.
Disorders of the abdomen that may result to lower back pain are ovarian disorders, pelvic infections, bladder infections, kidney infections, kidney diseases, aneurysms, and appendicitis, among others. Back pain is also felt during pregnancy due to the stretching ligaments which irritates the nerves; and strain on the lower back and in the pelvis. The doctor will note these down and keep them in your record in order to further evaluate the cause of your pain.
Lower back pain symptoms
Pain around the lumbosacral area is also considered as lower back pain. The following are some of the characteristics linked with lower back pain.
• Pain may give off at the front lower, back of the leg or side or can be restricted to the lower back.
• The pain may grow worse if one engages in physical activity.
• The patient may feel weakness or numbness at a part of their leg where it receives nerve supply coming from the compressed nerve. This will result to inability to stand properly or to move the foot forward. This happens when the first sacral nerve is injured or compressed.
• Oftentimes the pain will grow worse when one is sitting too long like during a long bus ride or car trip or during the night.
Treatment for lower back pain
Below are general treatment options only for those who feel that the pain tolerable. Avoid some physical activities that will add stress to the back and inflict more pain.
• There was not any specific exercise listed to reduce lower back pain although stretching maneuvers may help ease the pain of those who have chronic lower back pain.
• Sleep with one pillow placed between your knees and at the same time lying on one side as this will increase comfort. Other doctors may recommend you to lie with a pillow at your back under the knees.
• Non-prescription medications are also recommended to be relieved from pain:
o Ibuprofen such as Motrin, Nuprin or Advil can be purchased over-the-counter is a suggested medication only for short term treatment, as Ibuprofen may aggravate or cause gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.
o Acetaminophen is proven to be more effective at reducing lower back pain than Ibuprofen.
o Deep heating rubs, a fine example of topical agents, may also alleviate the pain.
o There are some patients who gained benefits from using heat or ice. Even if the use of such methods is not verified to be effective, they are not harmful at all. Although patients should be extra careful in putting too much heat or placing ice directly to the skin.
Majority of the experts agree that prolonged rest is correlated with longer recovery period. Furthermore, patients doing bed rest are likely to develop blood clotting on the legs, reduction of muscle tone and depression. It is recommended for patients with lower back pain to participate more in physical activity but only to the extent they can handle. Never rest for longer periods of time to prevent muscle atrophy and further complications.
