 |
| Low Back Pain, Symptoms, Causes, and How to Overcome It |
Low back pain is pain in the waist or lower spine that can be felt up to the buttocks and thighs. In some cases, the pain can radiate to the feet. The lower back is made up of the backbone, ligaments, and muscles. This body part is a strong structure and plays an important role in supporting the body when standing upright and when moving in various directions.
In addition, there are nerves in the back that function to regulate movement and capture stimuli. Low back pain can occur if there is a disturbance in the back structure.
Symptoms of Low Back Pain
The level of back pain felt by each patient is different, ranging from mild to severe pain that interferes with activities. But in general, here are the symptoms of low back pain:
- Pain feels like being stabbed or electrocuted
- Pain can be felt in the back only or radiates to other parts of the body, for example to the legs
- Pain occurs when you are in certain positions, such as sitting or walking, but improves when standing or lying down
- Back pain that persists or gets worse after lifting heavy objects
- Back pain may be accompanied by muscle twitching (spasm)
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Low back pain can last from a few days to a few weeks. This pain can be caused by several things, such as an injury from a fall or impact, excessive body movement, or lifting heavy weights.
In addition, low back pain can also be caused by the following conditions:
- Muscle stiffness
Stiff muscles due to infrequent movement can cause low back pain.
- Damage to the spinal joint gap
With age, the tissue in the joint space weakens, so that the spinal cushions protrude. This condition can put pressure on the spinal cord (pinched nerve) and cause pain that radiates to the leg. In addition, spinal shift or spondylolisthesis can also cause low back pain.
- Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
In some cases, arthritis can cause narrowing of the joints and vertebrae, causing pain.
- Spinal deformities and osteoporosis
Spinal deformities, such as kyphosis and bone loss (osteoporosis) can put pressure on the nerves and cause pain.
- Disorders of the spinal cord
This condition can result from inflammation, pressure, injury, or a tumor pressing on the spinal cord.
- Kidney stones
Lower back pain due to kidney stones usually feels like being stabbed by a sharp object and is felt only on one side of the back.
- 30–50 years old
- Being overweight or obese
- Rarely exercise
- Lifting too much weight
- Having a job that requires a lot of sitting, bending over, or lifting heavy objects
- Is pregnant
- Smoke
- Too often wearing high heels
How to Overcome Lower Back Pain
Here are the initial steps that can be done at home to relieve symptoms, while preventing the recurrence of low back pain:
- Regular exercise, especially those that train the abdominal and back muscles. Good types of exercise for back pain are yoga, pilates, tai chi, walking, and swimming.
- Maintain an upright posture when sitting or standing to reduce excess pressure on the muscles and spine
- Losing weight because excess weight will place greater emphasis on the muscles of the lower back and spine
- Avoid stress
- Do not smoke because smoking can interfere with the flow of blood vessels in the spine, and slow the healing of back pain
- Use a cold compress on the back for 10 minutes, then use a warm compress 2 days later
- Do not lift heavy objects so that lower back pain does not reappear
- Improve your sleeping position by raising your legs slightly higher than your body to reduce pressure on your back
Medical Steps to Treat Lower Back Pain
If the above methods do not work to reduce back pain complaints, you should consult a neurologist. Doctors can perform several tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause of low back pain.
The doctor will perform a physical examination, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. In some cases, the doctor may also suggest an EMG examination to evaluate the condition of the lower back nerves.
Once the diagnosis and cause of low back pain is known, a new doctor can provide appropriate treatment. The following are treatments that doctors can give to treat low back pain:
1. Painkillers
Severe low back pain often requires pain relievers from a doctor, such as NSAIDs, either in the form of oral or topical medications.
2. Muscle relaxants
This type of drug can treat stiffness in the muscles due to excessive muscle work. Muscle relaxants may also be given if low back pain is accompanied by muscle spasms.
3. Narcotic drugs and antidepressants (sedatives)
The use of these drugs requires close supervision from a doctor and is usually only used for a short period. This type of medication is used to relieve very severe low back pain.
4. Physiotherapy and physical exercise
Physiotherapy with heat, ultrasonic waves, or electrical stimulation (electrical therapy) can help with back pain. After the pain is resolved, physiotherapy can be continued with special movement exercises to increase the strength and flexibility of the back muscles.
5. Acupuncture
This alternative therapy is believed to help reduce low back pain. The results will be better if acupuncture is combined with physiotherapy and medication.
6. Spinal surgery
In severe cases, such as spinal structural abnormalities or pinched nerves that do not improve with treatment, surgery may be performed to correct abnormalities in the nerves and spine.
Low back pain usually gets better with time with rest and self-care at home. However, if low back pain doesn't improve, gets worse, or is accompanied by fever, trouble urinating or defecating, weakness in the leg muscles, and tingling in the legs, thighs, buttocks, or back, don't delay seeing a doctor.
Related Searches:
- low back pain,
- low back pain icd 10,
- icd 10 low back pain,
- icd 10 code for low back pain,
- low back pain exercises,
- low back pain causes,
- chronic low back pain icd 10,
- low back pain physical exercise,
- low back pain stretches,
- vertebrogenic low back pain,
- icd 10 code low back pain,
- icd 10 code for chronic low back pain,
- low back pain relief,
- low back pain early pregnancy,
- low back pain pregnancy,
- icd 10 for low back pain,
- low back pain heating pad,
- exercises for low back pain,
- chronic low back pain,
- low back pain differential diagnosis,
- causes of low back pain,
- low back pain exercises pdf,
- icd 10 chronic low back pain,
- icd 10 low back pain with radiculopathy,
- low back pain stretching,
- low back pain with radiculopathy icd 10,
- best pillow for low back pain,
- low back pain symptoms,
- low back pain strengthening exercises,
- low back pain icd10,
- low back pain treatment,
- low back pain pregnancy stretches,
- low back pain endometriosis,
- low back pain relieved by bowel movement,
- very low back pain,
- low back pain 8 weeks pregnant,
- low back pain omicron,
- low back pain red flags,
- low back pain ibs,
- severe low back pain before period,
- icd10 low back pain,
- endometriosis low back pain,
- severe low back pain,
- yoga for low back pain,
- low back pain golf,
- shoes for low back pain,
- what causes low back pain,
- low back pain doctor near me,
- what to take for low back pain,
- low back pain treatments,
- low back pain and abdominal cramping,
- low back pain menstruation,
- pregnancy low back pain stretches,
- low back pain stretches pregnancy,
- can stress cause low back pain,
- low back pain exercises for seniors,
- low back pain after epidural,
- best mattress for low back pain,
- best cream for low back pain,
- low back pain after bowel movement,
- acupuncture points for low back pain,
- low back pain va disability rating,
- low back pain hurts to walk,
- oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire,
- best desk chair for low back pain,
- acupuncture low back pain points,
- low back pain epidural,
- low back pain after sitting,
- pilates for low back pain,
- low back pain liver,
- fatigue and low back pain,
- low back pain hip pain,
- va disability rating for low back pain,
- low back pain acupuncture points,
- low back pain kidney infection,
- epidural for low back pain,
- low back pain dehydration,
- low back pain workout,
- back brace for low back pain,
- stretches for low back pain,
- low back pain from driving,
- low back pain lying on stomach,
- pt exercises for low back pain,
- low back pain before bowel movement,
- low back pain icd 10 code,
- low back pain after hysterectomy,
- low back pain while walking,
- low back pain anatomy,
- commonly known as low back pain,
- icd low back pain,
- low back pain out of nowhere,
- low back pain after walking,
- low back pain or kidney pain,
- low back pain and groin pain,
- low back pain stress,
- low back pain and cancer,
- low back pain vs kidney pain,
- anatomy of low back pain,
- best massager for low back pain,
- low back pain medication,
