Do you ever have lower back pain that stops you from doing your daily tasks? Do you ever feel difficulty in doing your routine tasks? If yes! Then don’t worry, you are not alone. It is the leading reason people visit a doctor and affect almost 80% of the adult population worldwide.
The leading cause of back pain is a disability. You may not stop lower back pain from happening as you age and your muscles lose strength and flexibility. However, there are many ways you can get relief from lower back pain.
But first, you should know about the causes and symptoms of lower back pain so you can identify them and make proper adjustments for their treatment.
What is Lower Back pain?
Your lower back is also known as the lumbar region of the spine. Well, it has a lot of heavy stuff to do, including carrying the entire weight of your upper body and bearing biomechanical stresses that occur with movements.
Lower back pain can happen due to injuries or many conditions but mainly due to damage to the muscles or tendons in the lower back. Pain can range from mild to worse, and in some cases, it can even make it impossible to do everyday activities.
What are the types of Lower Back pain?
The doctors categorize lower back pain in many ways, but the following two are the most common types:
- Mechanical pain: Mechanical pain (axial pain) originates from muscles, ligaments, joints (facet joints, sacroiliac joints), or spine bones. It is the most common cause of lower back pain. The lower back, buttocks, and sometimes the tops of the legs are the most common locations for this sort of pain. Motion (forward/backward/twisting), movement, standing, sitting, or sleeping can all impact how it feels.
- Radicular pain: If a spinal nerve root becomes impinged or irritated, this sort of pain might occur. Radicular pain can travel down the buttock and leg in a nerve root pattern or dermatome. It has a severe, electric, burning-type pain followed by numbness or weakness (sciatica). It usually only affects one side of the body.
What Causes Lower Back pain?
As 80% of the adult population suffers from lower back pain, it is very difficult to diagnose the exact cause of lower back pain. Many injuries, diseases, and conditions may contribute to lower back pain. They include:
- Strains and sprains: Strains and sprains are one of the most common causes of back pain. You can easily injure your back muscles or tendons by lifting too heavy stuff or by not lifting carefully. You’ll be amazed to know that some people can train their back by just sneezing or coughing.
- Fractures: The bones in the back can easily break during an accident like a car crash or falling from height. In addition, certain conditions such as Spondylosis or osteoporosis can increase the risk of fractures.
- Structural problems: Structural problems like spinal stenosis occur when the spinal column is too narrow for the spinal cord. If anything gives stress or pinching, the spinal cord can cause severe sciatic nerve pain and lower back pain. The curvature of the spine ( Scoliosis) can also lead to pain, stiffness, and difficulty in movement.
- Diseases: Diseases like spine tumors, infections, and cancer can cause lower back pain. Other conditions like kidney stones, fever, and severe coughing can also cause lower back pain.
What are the symptoms of Lower Back pain?
Carefully identifying and describing symptoms can help in more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. A combination of the following symptoms can cause lower back pain.
Dull aching pain:
Axis pain is described as dull and aching rather than searing, stinging, or acute pain that persists in the low back. Mild to severe muscular spasms, limited movement and soreness in the hips and pelvis can follow this type of pain.
Pain in buttocks, legs, and feet:
A painful, stinging, tingling or numb sensation travels down the thighs and into the low legs and foot, often known as sciatica, accompanying low back pain. Sciatica is a condition caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve that affects only one side of the body.
Pain after prolonged sitting:
Sitting for long periods can cause lower back pain as prolonged sitting puts pressure on the discs. Stretching and a little walking can quickly alleviate this pain but returning to a sitting position may cause these symptoms to return.
Pain that feels better when changing postures:
Some positions are more comfortable than others, depending on the underlying source of pain. Walking might be difficult and uncomfortable with spinal stenosis, but leaning forward onto something like a shopping cart can help relieve pain. How your symptoms change as you move about can help you figure out what’s causing your pain.
Worst pain when you first get up and improves when you move around:
Pain in the morning is mainly due to long rest during the night, decreased blood flow, and the quality of matter used. You may also feel the worst pain when you wake up, but it goes away when you move around.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that the symptoms mentioned above are the only ones you can experience. Lower back pain varies depending on your age and many other factors, including mental health, emotional stress, and daily routine. However, If you are experiencing symptoms like these, I suggest you book an appointment with the best doctors in Karachi before these symptoms worsen.
What are the treatments for Lower Back pain?
Lower back pain is a common problem and usually resolves with home remedies and proper rest. But sometimes, it becomes necessary to seek medical attention. Here are some home remedies and medical treatments you should aim for:
Home Remedies:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. A hot compress or an ice pack placed on the affected area may also help to ease the pain.
Resting from heavy activities can help, but walking about can aid with stiffness, discomfort, and muscle weakness.
Medical Treatments:
Home remedies may not always work, so that a doctor may recommend you the following medication and therapies:
Medications: If OTC painkillers don’t perform well, you may require codeine(A narcotic). Codeine may be prescribed for short periods and require close monitoring. Muscle relaxants are also helpful in some cases.
Cortisone injections: If other options are not helping, then cortisone injections may be injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord. Injections may also be used to numb areas thought to be causing the pain.
Physical therapy:
Heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and various muscle-release treatments can assist relieve pain in the back muscles and soft tissues.
The physical therapist may introduce some back and abdominal flexibility and strength exercises as the stiffness improves. Posture-improvement techniques may also be beneficial.
The patient will be encouraged to perform the exercises regularly to avoid back pain repetition, even after the pain has gone.
FAQs
How do you relieve lower back pain?
- Keep Moving.
- Stretch and Strengthen.
- Keep Good Posture.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight.
- Quit Smoking.
- Try Ice and Heat.
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
In general, if your lower back pain does not go away in 1 to 2 weeks, you should see a doctor. Although your distress is unlikely to be a symptom of a medical emergency, a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan.
How do you know if your back pain is muscle or disc?
While a disc could cause pain in the middle of your back, it’s more likely to be caused by muscular strain or other problems.
What’s the best exercise for lower back pain?
Bridges, knee to chest stretches, lower back rotational stretches, and draw-in maneuvers are some of the exercises you should try.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with the top orthopedic surgeons in Karachi through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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