Pain In The Lower Back: How To Handle It
The lower back has five vertebrae that make up the lumbar bones. These vertebrae are separated by spinal discs that are made of a gel-like substance. These discs are coated with cartilage.
The spinal cord and nerves are contained within the spinal canal, which runs the full length of the spinal column. The lower back takes a lot of stress because it carries the weight of most of the torso. This causes the spine, nerves and muscles to be subject to pain.
Doctors see patients for lower back pain quite frequently - almost as often as for the flu! Back pain can be caused by a lot of things, and in fact, it can have multiple causes in one patient. Injury and trauma are the most common causes of back pain. Here are a few examples:
Strain: Injury to a muscle.
Sprain: Injury to a ligament.
Sciatica: Pinched nerve.
Sacroiliitis: Inflamed hip joint.
Disc degeneration is caused by disease (such as arthritis).
A herniated disc is caused by pressure.
Sprains and strains may be caused by single or multiple events. Improper lifting may causes a sprain or strain as a single event or cumulatively over a period of time. Obesity and poor posture can cause back pain due to constant pressure and stress.
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After a strain or sprain, it is important to slowly and carefully resume normal activities after a couple of days. Heat and/or cold packs should be applied to the injury. Physical maneuvering of the bones - known as tractions and reduction - may be helpful. Other treatments include electrical stimulation, massage therapy, and ultrasound. Additionally, injections of corticosteroids or local anesthetics may provide temporary relief of pain.
Anytime you have back pain, one of the best ways to alleviate it is through conditioning and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. This can be done by using specific exercises recommended by your health care professional and by adding aerobic conditioning to your daily activities.
If you have tried all of the non-surgical options without relief, you may wish to consider surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common back surgery. It works by limiting the movement in the most painful area of your back.
If your pain is reduced, your surgery is successful. Keep in mind, however, that it may take more than a year to experience full recovery. Additionally, it is quite unusual for a person to truly have complete relief of pain. Discuss all of the options with your doctor. You may find that surgery is not the right treatment for your situation.
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