Low Back Pain: Causes & Treatments
What are the causes of low back pain? Learn more about standard treatments including home care, physical therapy, exercise and others.
Definition of low back pain
The low back of our spine, also called the lumbar region, is the area of the back that starts below the ribcage. Low back pain can happen to almost everyone at some point in life. Fortunately, low back pain can get better on its own but it also doesn’t go away in some cases. Several effective treatments can be done to treat low back pain.
What are the symptoms & causes of low back pain?
The symptoms might range from a dull ache to a stabbing or shooting sensation in the lumbar region. The pain could make it hard to move or stand up straight. Sudden or ‘acute’ pain might happen during sports or heavy lifting activities. If your low back pain lasts more than 3 months, it is considered chronic low back pain and you will need to seek medical advice from your doctor immediately.
Other symptoms that come along with chronic low back pain are:
- Bowel or bladder control issue
- Leg weakness
- Fever
- Pain when coughing or peeing
The common causes for low back pain are:
- Muscle strain from heavy lifting or vigorous exercise
- Herniated Disc: when small jelly-filled disks that are meant to protect the space between vertebrae bulge or break push a nerve
- Sitting at a desk for long hours on an uncomfortable chair makes you tend to slouch
- Carrying an overstuffed and heavy bag that causes pressure on your lower back
- Overdoing your workout at the gym
- Arthritis
- Infection of the spine
Treatments for low back pain
- 1Home care
Self-care methods are helpful for the first 72 hours after the pain begins. You need to stop your normal physical activities for a couple of days and apply ice to your lower back for the first 48 - 72 hours before switching to heat. - 2Medical treatment
For chronic low back pain, your doctor may prescribe some medications that include muscle relaxants, ibuprofen, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relief drugs, or corticosteroid injections. - 3Physical therapy
Physical therapy such as massage, stretching and strengthening exercises can aid in relieving pain.
If your back pain lasts more than 3 months, do consult your doctor about the lower back pain immediately and seek treatment. Find out how you can improve your low back pain with our Neurology medical experts at Regency Specialist Hospital.