Lower back pain is considered by many to be one of those universal human experiences.
In other words, everyone has experienced it at one point in their lives or another.
Lower pain is considered very common in adults between 30 and 50 years old.
Its severity can range from acute to chronic.
Back pain can be attributed to a lot of causes.
However, some of the most common causes include spinal abnormalities (i.e. slipped disk or spinal stenosis), muscle pulls and spasms, and nerve irritation.
Symptoms
Back pain symptoms that will manifest will often depend on the severity of the condition.
In most cases however, it can range from dull ache to stabbing or shooting sensation.
In other cases, those with the condition will notice pain when standing or moving up.
Most cases of acute lower back pain are attributed to injuries from sports or from lifting heavy objects.
If pain in the back persists past the 72-hour mark, seeing an orthopaedic specialist would be considered ideal.
Pain that persists for more than 3 months is already classified as chronic.
Individuals who experience back pain that is severe after a fall or injury should consider seeking immediate medical attention a necessity.
Other alarming symptoms that will require immediate medical attention include:
- Fever
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Pain when coughing or urinating
- Weakness in the leg
Risk Factors
Many people often experience lower back pain in their 30s.
Occurrence of the condition has been noticed to increase as an individual ages.
Apart from age, there are other factors that have been known to increase a person’s risk for lower back pain.
Some of the factors are:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- Jobs that entail lifting of heavy objects
Diagnosis
To diagnose the cause of the back pain accurately, orthopaedic specialists would most likely ask patients the following questions:
- What is the pain like?
- When did you first notice it?
- What are the symptoms you have noticed?
- Do you have a history of chronic back pain?
Treatment
In most cases, recommended treatment option for back pain will depend on the cause of the condition and its severity.
Below are some of the most effective ways used to manage back pain:
Rest
In mild cases, reducing the level of activity at least for a couple of days or more would often do wonders.
Also, putting in the back in a neutral position by putting a pillow under the knees while lying on the back has also been known to help.
Heat or ice
Evidence indicates that using heat packs and ice can significantly increase mobility and alleviate pain.
Placing a bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the painful area is often recommended to help minimize the inflammation.
The procedure should be repeated numerous times each day, at least 20 minutes for each repetition.
For those who prefer heat treatment, taking a warm bath or using a heating pad would be good ideas.
The warmth can help loose the tight muscles that might be one of the causes of the pain.
Surgery
Surgery to resolve severe back pain is very rare.
However, it can become the likely option when all other treatment options that have been exhausted has proved futile.
Surgery can also be the best option in some cases.
For instance, when small disk fragments have disintegrated, they need to be removed surgically to remove pressure on the nerve paths.
In the case of an injured or abnormal vertebrae, fusing it together might be required so the patient can regain mobility.
Generally, surgery of the back is often considered the last resort.
It can only become the ideal treatment option when there is loss of bowel or bladder control, when there is neurological loss, and when all other noninvasive alternatives have proved futile.
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