Lower Back Pain
Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Medication, Prevention of Lower Back Pain…
Most people nowadays are affected by the discomfort of lower back pain. This is a very common health concern all over the world and it affects almost 90% of the population on Earth. Back pain occurs with many reasons.
It can be a symptom of a more serious illness like rheumatism or others. Some people just can’t fight the pain in their back which leads to a constant absence from work or school. They tend to have their lower backs massaged but if the pain is not covered up with the process, this leads to a doctor’s visit to have it checked if it’s something serious.
The Causes of Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is considered as a symptom which involves disease or muscle, bone, nerve, or spine injury. It can also be a symptom of arising abnormalities of body organs such as pelvis, abdomen, and chest. Common disorders such as appendicitis, kidney infection, bladder infection, ovarian disorders, and aneurysms are also incorporated with back pain.
Lower Back Pain Symptoms
Here are some signs that you need to observe to determine whether your back pain is serious:
- Lower back pain becomes worse with activity like carrying heavy items, running, etc.
- Lower back feels painful when sitted for a long time without moving and being still.
- The pain is getting worse at night.
- The pain is radiating down to the side, front, or back of your leg.
- Weakness and numbness in the part of the leg that happens to receive nerve supply from a compressed nerve.
- The Right Time to Seek Medical Attention
Now that you already know what causes your lower back pain and what could possibly be incorporated with the pain, it is now time to determine whether you need to have yourself checked by a doctor.
- Vehicular accident
- Falling from a height
- People with COPD, asthma, and other rheumatic disorders.
- History of osteoporosis and hip fracture.
- Prior history of cancer
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Even by taking medicine to relieve the pain doesn’t work at all
Treatment
To relieve the pain you are suffering from lower back pain, you can try sleeping with a pillow between the knees while lying on one side. This can increase comfort. Exercise can also be done but only in an average manner. Too much stretching of the back may produce strains that is not really helpful in relieving the pain. You can also try drinking prescribed medications such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen. Specialists believe that bed rest is not even a better solution for it only weakens the part of the back which is in pain.
As for the medical treatment, initial treatments are based with the assumption that the pain will be gone in just a matter of weeks. You can choose from lots of treatment which worked with other people but still you need to seek first for medical assistance before undergoing any treatment.
Medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) – considered as the main stay of medical treatment for lower back pain relief. It includes Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen, and many more.
Acetaminophen – considered as the most effective for treating acute pain.
COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex. It is way more expensive than others but is effective.
Opiod analgesics – using this medication includes decreased reaction time, nausea, constipation, sedation and clouded judgment.
Steroids
Prevention
Lower back pains can be prevented in a number of ways. Having exercise such as abdominal crunches which strengthens abdominal muscles can decrease the tendency to have lower back pains. Using of lumbar support belts is also recommended for workers who performs lifting of heavy materials. Sitting and standing properly is also necessary because a wrong body movement can also cause back pain. While standing, make sure you keep your head up and your stomach pulled in. As for sitting, if you intend to sit for a long period of time, you should prefer sitting on a swivel chair which has a lower back support. Also in sleeping, you can be able to prevent back pain. Do not sleep with too soft mattresses as well on a hard mattress. Usage of plywood or mattress pad in between the box spring and mattress is highly recommended.
Back pain can be more serious especially if not treated earlier. Suppose that it is a symptom of more serious disease which can affect your framewok and could possibly be a cause of disability, the need for it to be treated as soon is possible is very important.
Lower back pains do have some exceptions. If you are under the age of 50 and up, lower back pain is a normal phase you need to survive. As you get old, your bones are getting soft too. That’s what causes back pain. It can’t support the weight of the body anymore that is why it is recommended to take calcium supplements such as calcium tablets and eating foods that are rich in calcium such as dairy products like cheese and milk.
Serious cases are likely to happen on people with young ages starting adolescent periods to young adulthood. With that, they need to be more careful for they don’t have any reason why their back feels pain unless they are like the older ones who got themselves softer bones.
Learning how to prevent lower back pains in advance is a good idea to make sure you won’t encounter things like this that can give you a feeling of discomfort especially with all the activities you need to do.
Lower Back Pain Exercises and Treatments
Lower back pain is one common suffering of people, mostly those who reached their old ages. Sometimes, it is incorporated with a more serious disease making it as one symptom. There are lots of back pain relief products that are available over-the-counter but there are times that it won’t work for some people especially if it’s a severe lower back pain. In that case, the patient is recommended to have themselves checked by a specialist so that they will know if they need to undergo a lower back pain treatment. Lower back pain causes are not really clear but they can be diagnosed through MRI, and some series of physical tests. It can happen either on the left or right side of the lower back. Sometimes, lower back pain right side and lower back pain left side is just the same but in some cases, they do differ with the situation especially if the pain serves as a symptom of a disease. But as for lower back pain in early pregnancy, it is understandable that the whole lower back part became affected. It can be a side effect of an specific organ manfunction such as the appendix, kidney, and bladder. But whether it is a lower back pain right side or lower back pain left side, it should be treated equally.
Usually, you will know that you are experiencing severe lower back pain by identifying if what you’re feeling is considered on the lower back pain symptoms. One symptom that you may have is when you find it difficult to stand straight for a long time. When you feel discomfort while sitting still, that is also counted. Another is a feeling of tenderness, stiffness, and pain in the lower back and weakness and leg fatigue while walking. Lower back pain symptoms is very easy to identify.
Lower Back Pain in Early Pregnancy
Lower back pain is prevalent for about 80% of pregnant women. This happens because the tummy is getting heavier than the usual and the body needs to be kept straight all the time. Due to the heaviness of the frontal part of the body, the back bone is being affected for it is being curved. Lower back pain in early pregnancy is understandable and very normal so there is no need to panic.
Chronic Lower Back Pain Treatments
In cases of chronic lower back pain, early treatment is very important. This is to prevent the matter in getting worse by time. There are several effective treatments that a patient can under go. It can be through a drug therapy which can include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and adjulvant analgesics. Another option is physical therapy through engaging to physical activities such as swimming and stationary bicycling which helps in strengthening weakened muscle. Interventional, complementary, and psychological therapy can also be used for chronic lower back pain.
Exercises and Stretches for Lower Back Pain
There are lots of exercises that you can do in reducing the pain you are suffering. You can try the pelvic twist, the knee to chest exercise, the essential twist stretch and the cobra stretch. They are all effective forms of stretches for lower back pain and is very easy to execute.
Lower Back Pain Kidney Condition
Just like what is indicated above, lower back pain can also be a symptom of a disease. The lower back pain kidney is caused by a kidney infection. Usually, the pain comes from the hips up to the side of the spine. You can determine whether you are experiencing lower back pain kidney by pressing the area where the pain is existing.
Relief Products
Every pain can be reduced by taking medicines that will help you relieve the pain. Pain relievers are always available everytime and everywhere, all you have to do is find the right one that will work perfectly for you. Accessories can also help you such as back braces, back cushions, back heat therapy, ice packs, magnets, massagers, and pain gels.
A lower back brace can help you by stabilizing the painful area. Most people who uses this are those who wants to relieve the symptoms of arthritis and disc injuries. You can buy it around $20 to $40 in stores. Back cushions, on the other hand, can provide relief of your back pain through correcting your body posture. The most common lower back pain relief products is the gel and creams that can ease the pain you are suffering. They are of many types and brands that you can find in drugstores.
Filled under: Lower Back Pain
