If you are an adult and unable to sit, sleep, or stand because of lower back pain, you are not alone. Affecting millions of lives across the world, lower back pain is one of the major concerns that can lead to disability.
To put it into a simple perspective, lower back pain occurs as a result of lowering resilience and strength of the lower spine. Even though this is a major worry for adults, there are various treatment approaches that can help.
Back Pain - The Back Story
The lower back region of the spine is known as the lumbar region that has 5 backbones (vertebrae). Vertebrae is instrumental in carrying the heavy lifting function in the body.
The complex structure of each vertebra contains a large disc in a cushioned gel covered and protected by a tough membrane, cartilage tissue, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Lower Back Pain - What Exactly Goes Wrong?
Spinal cord is a structural marvel. It is not just a communication bridge between the mind and the body but a structural support that gives a shape to the whole body and makes the movement possible.
Any small damage in any part of the lumbar of the spine can lead to lower back pain. Apart from the congenital, here are the ways people might acquire lower back pain.
- Mechanical - Involving in irregular and incorrect movement can lead to tears and wear of the intervertebral discs, facet joints, ligaments, muscles and soft tissues.
- Condition-induced - Certain health conditions such as spinal cord cancer can cause severe lower back pain.
- Unknown - Medically known as idiopathic, this refers to an unknown condition that triggers pain.
The Causes of Lower Back Pain
Upon consultation with your spine specialist, he or she will look out for various conditions such as strains, disc injury, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and abnormal spinal curvatures to narrow down the possible cause. The other causes of lower back pain can be including (but not limited to).
- Arthritis - An inflammatory condition that disrupts movement of joints
- Spondylitis - Same as arthritis, an inflammatory condition, but occurs between the spinal bones
- Spondylosis - Has the characteristics of spondylitis but occurs as a result of degeneration
The Types of Lower Back Pain
It is common to experience back pain every now and then especially when you are involved in physical exertion that demands your full strength. But if the pain lasts for more than 2 weeks, you might want to seek medical intervention.
Depending on the root cause, lower back pain can last any time between 4 weeks to 12 months. Depending on the time, the pain can be categorized into the following categories.
- 1. Acute - The pain can last any time between 2-4 weeks.
- 2. Subacute - Lasts for any time between 4 weeks to 12 months. This pain requires proper medical care.
- 3. Chronic - Untreated acute or subacute lower back pain can turn into a chronic condition that requires surgeries such as spinal fusion.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Lower Back Pain
- Your spinal cord specialist will conduct a thorough physical examination and analyze the lifestyle, different sensations, and the origins of pain during the first visit.
- Imagery examinations such as x-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI are conducted if the doctor suspects any disc, bone, ligament and tendon-related issues.
- Medical treatment is employed for conditions that are subacute and chronic. The treatment might employ a combination of medicines, medical appliances, and physiotherapy.
- However, if the pain is not subsiding, the doctor might consider surgeries such as discectomy, foraminotomy, nucleoplasty, laminectomy, and Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET).
Managing Lower Back Pain and the Best Ways to Live With It
- Reduce the excess weight if you are obese
- If you are observing a sudden back pain, do not take bed rest. Staying active as much as you can help!
- Adapt to a lifestyle that improves your physical fitness
- Join in a swimming class as water-based activities are proven to be effective for lower back pain
- Eat healthy foods that contain calcium and sit, walk, and workout in the right way.
If you are observing pain in your lower back and it is not reduced even after 72 hours, book an appointment with your nearest orthopedic hospital or with a spinal cord doctor.