What Everyone Should Know About Low Back Pain

What Everyone Should Know About Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a very common issue in all kinds of patients, athletes, kids, adults. All groups of people are prone to it regardless of their daily physical activities and their intensity. There are many kinds of factors that can cause this pain. It could be related to or directly caused by scoliosis, bad posture, bad movements of the spine, applying pressure or tension in this zone, an injury in the muscular tissue, inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, infections such as tuberculosis, endocarditis, or urinary infections, tumors in the lungs, kidneys, prostate or the digestive system, among many others.

Symptoms

A localized pain in the inferior part of the back is the main symptom. Additionally, this is often accompanied by the swelling of the area and muscular stiffness. Depending on the level of the injury, some other symptoms such as a tingling sensation and numbness can appear in the affected area.

Treatment

According to the symptoms and the level of pain, the doctor will determine the kind of treatment to be followed. The doctor could also request some additional exams such as radiographic and functional tests to further analyze the issue. 

During the first stages of low back pain, just like it is usually recommended for any other kinds of inflammations, these are the basic steps that should be followed:

• Hot and cold therapy. This can be done through the application of gel bags alternating between hot and cold applications.
• Getting enough rest, especially avoiding major efforts that could compromise the affected back area. However, resting lying down on a bed is not recommended since it can extend the recovery time.
• It is important to stay active for a quick recovery. 
• Physiotherapy.
• Medicine like anti-inflammatories that can also help relieve the pain can help in the recovery process. These should be taken according to the doctor’s instructions. 

Different kinds of treatments or even surgery could be followed depending on the specific cause of the pain.

Prevention

Even though it is difficult to foresee the emergence of low back pain caused by underlying conditions, there are still many habits we can incorporate into our routines to have a healthier spine and prevent this discomfort. 

In general, we must try to strengthen our muscles to create better support for the spine:

• Some exercises, stretches, or activities like yoga can be greatly helpful in this regard. 
• Correcting our posture. This way we can avoid tensioning the low back and causing an injury, whether it is through a bad movement or static pressure. Avoiding a bad posture is advised not only while sitting down but during any kind of activities including exercising, sleeping, and even just standing.
• Avoiding obesity.
• Keeping an active lifestyle.