All You Should Know About Lower Back Pain

All You Should Know About Lower Back Pain

Are you experiencing a pain in your lower back which is annoying your everyday activities? No matter how you move your body, the pain will always bother you. It can be a sign of lower back pain symptoms which can indicate an important disease or become a serious condition which should not be ignored.

 What is Lower Back Pain

 is a symptom which is commonly found. Normally, the pain occurs on the lower back area with muscle tightness or stiffness from behind the ribs to the buttocks. Lower back pain can be caused by diseases and injuries which result in spurring. A spur is a small projection from any structure produced by a normal recovery mechanism. The spur can cause nerve impingement in the lumbar area and decrease the healing process as our bodies age.

 Lower Back Pain Types

Lower back pain can be divided into 3 types according to its duration. A back pain that persists for less than 6 weeks is called acute lower back pain. Subacute lower back pain is back pain that persists for more than 6 weeks but not more than 3 months. If you leave it on for more than 3 months, it will become chronic back pain.

 What Causes Lower Back Pain?

Most lower back pain is caused by diseases of the back. The most common causes include:

• Diseases of the ligaments and muscles of the back
• Degenerative diseases of the spinal joints
• Diseases of herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Diseases of the spine
• Infectious spinal disease
• Non-infectious inflammatory disease
• Cancer, which includes cancer of the spine and metastasis of cancer to the spine.
• Accident resulting to spine injury

However, lower back pain can be caused by internal organs and other non-vertebral causes, such as kidney disease, coronary artery disease, digestive system and reproductive system including psychological causes. So, if the diagnosis does not find the cause of the disease related to the back, differential diagnosis of other causes may be considered.

 Diseases Associated with Low Back Pain

Diseases that are found associated with lower back pain are acute back strain, lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis. Acute back strain is a disease which is commonly found when there is pain in the lower back. The body can heal by itself in 1-2 weeks, causing the patient to not see a doctor. Lumbar disc herniation is also associated with lower back pain disease which can be found in patients younger than 50 years. It can occur after lifting heavy objects or turning the wrong position, causing a herniated disc to rupture over the nerve triggering pain radiating to the legs, numbness and weakness of the muscles. Another is spinal stenosis in which pain in the back and legs is gradual, sometimes the pain takes years. The pain will radiate

down the leg when walking long distances. But after sitting for a few minutes, the symptoms improve and I can continue walking.

 Low Back Pain Diagnosis

Radiographic investigation is one of the lower back pain diagnoses. Each type of radiograph provides different information and benefits to lower back pain patients, for example: plain radiograph, myelography, computer tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

 How to Treat and Prevent from Lower Back Pain

              Since lower back pain can be caused by various reasons, each condition has a specific treatment. The main objectives of lower back pain treatment aim to reduce the pain of the patient to regain normal movement and return daily routines for the patient and to prevent recurrence of the disease especially patients caused by unhealthy habits.

For patient practices, getting enough rest is good for this symptom. Studies showed that just a few days of bed rest is more effective than one week-long break. When the condition starts to improve, patients should do some physical activity such as move, sit, and stand and should avoid bending back during this period. Patients can take medication to relieve pain such as Paracetamol, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which can reduce pain and inflammation but have to consider the side effects as well according to the indication depending on the severity of the disease, age of the patient, underlying disease of the patient, etc. Physical therapy can reduce acute pain as well such as ultrasound, short wave, TENS, electro-acupuncture, traction, and manipulation, etc. Besides, patients should be provided accurate information about walking, standing, and practicing correct posture which can prevent recurrence of back pain. However, if supportive treatment does not make it, further treatment may be considered. Moreover, lower back pain and other spine disorders can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as avoid sitting in the same position for a long period of time, avoid sitting or maintaining the incorrect postures, avoid carrying heavy bags or shoulder bags on one side, exercise back muscles etc.

 Lower Back Pain Conclusion

Lower back pain is the most common symptom but should not be ignored. The pain can be caused by problems of the spinal muscles, nerves, bones, discs, tendons or some wrong postures. In case the pain becomes chronic, severe and refers to the leg or the foot with searing pain, making it difficult to stand or walk, these symptoms may not be just a common lower back pain. So, it is important that patients see a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment.