Suffering from lower back pain? You are not alone. At some point in life almost everyone suffers from back pain. The condition is troublesome not only because it causes pain (severe pain in extreme cases) but also because it interferes with work, daily activities and routine, or recreation.
Each year, Americans spend an average of $50 billion on treatment or research for prevention of lower back pain. The condition has been cited as one of the most common causes of job-related disability, leading the person to miss work. Back pain is, in fact, the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headache.
The good news is that most lower back pain lasts only for a few days. However, there are instances where the condition could last longer.
Acute Lower Back Pain
Sometimes referred to as short-term lower back pain, acute lower back pain extends any time from a few days to a few weeks. The condition is considered as mechanical in nature as it is often the result of trauma to the lower back.
Short-term back pain may also be caused by disorders that affect the spine, such as arthritis, sports injury, working around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt that adds stress to the spinal bones and tissues. One example of the latter is when you receive trauma to your lower back due to a car accident.
The condition has symptoms that range from muscle aches to shooting or stabbing pain. Short-term lower back pain may also limit your flexibility and/or range of motion. Sometimes, it may even lead to inability to stand straight.
If left untreated, some acute lower back pain may lead to more serious conditions.
Chronic Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is classified by duration. Therefore, if the pain lasts only for a few days to a few weeks, it is short-term or acute lower back pain. However, if the pain persists for more than three months, then the condition is already chronic.
Chronic lower back pain is progressive. This means that the symptoms can only get worse over time. There are a number of possible causes but they are difficult to determine with each case. That is why people who suffer back pain that lasts for far longer than what is considered “normal” are advised to consult the doctor as soon as possible.
Self-Treatment
Since pain to the lower back is fairly common, there are quite a few home remedies used to treat it. Most of the time the treatment involves using analgesics or taking drugs that reduce inflammation, restore proper function and strength, and prevent recurrence of the injury. Cold and hot compresses are also frequently used to treat lower back pain although the same has not been scientifically proven to treat back pain.
After 72 hours of self-care and there is still no improvement, patients are advised to consult the doctor.
Posted by admin in Health
Lower Back Pain Relief IS a Relief
I have written an article about lower back pain, a snippet is below: If you've ever suffered from the debilitating symptoms of lower back pain, then you may have been driven to do some really weird and wonderful things to try to get lower back pain relief. Just a quick recap - lower back pain usually manifests itself as an ache, tense muscles or stiffness so bad it feels like you are creaking. The pain usually centers itself roughly between the bottom of the ribs, and the bottom of the spine. If that weren't enough, thanks very much, it can also radiate in one or both hips, buttocks and down the legs. Gives new meaning to the term, a "pain in the butt!" Lower back pain relief in this instance is something many actively seek long and hard before they are able to get some respite. To read the rest of this article, please visit my site.
Lower Back Pain Treatment
... parts of the back not being aligned. By consulting a chiropractor they can tell you if everything in your back is how it should be. Not being aligned is one of the biggest causes of back problems. Lower back pain treatment is a specialty of many chiropractors as there are so many back problems that people have. If you are feeling pain in your back because of an injury try applying heat to the area. Using heat loosens up the back and causes the back to become less stiff. This form of treatment generally alleviates the pain at first but finding out what is wrong with your back will only help the healing process in the Lower Back Pain long run. The last option is surgery. This is definitely the final option if stretching and exercises do not work. Surgery for lower back pain treatment is only contemplated if there are no other option or if the other...
Lower Back
... conditions. If you're an elderly person, know that the disc in the spine become rigid and looses elasticity as you age. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are two of the top reasons pain develops in the lower back for the aged. Pain sensations can be sharp or a continual dull ache. Other types of diseases and birth defects can cause pain, so be sure to let your doctor know if it's been going on for longer than 3 months. A chronic condition involving pain needs to be treated, so you can live a more productive life. Taking care of yourself is a necessity if you want to live an active and pain free life. You can use a few precautions and healthy life style choices by not gaining weight, having poor posture, or sleeping in awkward positions. Excess weight puts strain on the back, and poor posture even if you're sitting, pulls the muscles and ligaments out of its natural position from...
Lower Back Pain Relief
... In addition, you may also apply a cold or heat pack to the painful area. Leave the compress on for five to ten minutes at a time. This lower back pain relief treatment is advisable if you have been suffering pain for the first 24-48 hours. Constant Motion Constant motion is also advised. Some therapists prescribe resting your back but this lower back pain relief method is only amenable for one to two days. After that period has passed and you still suffer from pain, restrain from resting your back as this could weaken your muscles, leading to a slower recovery. Instead, continue on with your daily activities even though it's painful. However, do take steps in protecting your back from excessive strain while you do these activities, and if possible, avoid doing strenuous activities. Exercise Among the activities that could offer lower back pain relief is exercise. To manage pain, you may do any of the following: * Walk short...
Lower Back Pain Exercise
... stomach, hips and thighs muscle an opportunity to strengthen and become more flexible. There are, of course, other ways of keeping your body well-conditioned and staying active. Some people do recreational activities, such as running, walking, bike riding, and swimming, to keep Lower Back Pain themselves in good physical conditions. But in addition to these conditioning activities, there are also specific lower back pain exercises that are directed toward the development of your back, stomach, hip and thigh muscles. Reminder: Before you begin any lower back pain exercise program, discuss the mechanics of the routines involved with your doctor. Additionally, do a few warm-up or stretching exercises before tackling any lower back pain exercise program. Warm-ups will help you condition your body and prevent the risk of injury that may arise while exercising. Wall Slides ...
Lower Back Pain Exercises
... done in two sets for each day. During the regimen, avoid stretching or bending too Lower Back Pain fast. Avoid bouncing as this can cause muscles tearing. Lower Back Pain Exercises with a Medicine Ball Procedure 1: Contract you abdominal muscles while lying on your back, knees bent and calves resting on ball. Now slowly raise your arm over head and lower arm, alternating the right and left arms. While you do this, straighten one knee and relax also alternating right and left sides. You should straighten one knee while raising the opposite arm over head. Procedure 2: Sit on ball with back straight and knees bent 90 degrees. Then slowly raise arm over head, alternating the right and left. While doing this, also raise and lower heel, also alternating right and left. Lift the opposite limb alternately. Perform these exercises for a maximum of 5 minutes. Do you notice the semblance of this lower back pain exercise? Yes, it resembles swimming. Swimming is by far the best exercise; notice how swimmers rarely have...
Atlanta Acupuncture For Lower Back Pain
... of the most common neurological ailments, second only to headache. There are many treatments and remedies available for persons who suffer from this condition. And while there is no definitive treatment, the use of Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain has experienced a dramatic increase over the past few decades. A number of placebo-controlled studies have established and validated Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain as a reliable method for pain relief. In fact, the Annals of Internal Medicine has published a meta-analysis on Atlanta acupuncture for lower back pain showing how among the two dozen previously published studies on back pain treatments, acupuncture is "significantly more effective" than sham acupuncture or no treatment. ACUPUNCTURE: How it Works Acupuncture is a significant component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has been used to treat a number of illnesses for hundreds of years in China and most Asian nations. The treatment is based on a theory...
Attacked By Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy?
... pregnancy. Constipation, Flatulence and Bloating If your back pain is accompanied by these embarrassing conditions, this is perfectly normal. Constipation by the way is a common complaint among older people. As your uterus grows, the action tends to create pressure on the surrounding organs, pushing them aside. This effect makes your digestion process slow. And as we know, if a considerable matter slowly makes its way down your gut, the bacteria that reside on your intestine will feast on this matter and the resulting chemical reaction will produce gas. Normally, people swallow air every time. They expend it by burping or if trapped rather miserably, the air is pushed towards the colon where the air awaits eventual release as flatus. Moreover, during pregnancy your body releases progesterone, a hormone that relaxes smooth muscles including...
Natural Chronic Pain Relief From Eazol
... chronic back pain is the most common. Chronic pain can last as long as 6 months in some cases and prevent the patient from doing even simple normal tasks. With the recent removal of Celebrex and VIOXX from the market, many people are searching for natural chronic pain relief solutions. One such product that I recommend is Eazol. Eazol is a natural chronic pain relief supplement that is made from 100 percent natural herbs and ingredients. It contains a complete list of active botanicals that can be easily taken in one supplement. Eazol can help relieve osteoarthritis, rheumatism, stiff joints, singles, neck pain and lower back pain. Since it is a natural chronic pain relief supplement, there are no major Lower Back Pain side effects. But if you want to be cautious, please consult your doctor before taking...
Lower Back Muscle Pain Treatments
... problem. Chiropractic Manipulation Though chiropractic medicine normally is about the structural elements of the body, chiropractors often argued that structural manipulation does not only benefit the bones directly, it also affects other areas, if not all the entire back area. Chiropractic manipulation of the bones can promote skeletal mobility, blood circulation and muscle toning. Its hard to check the tabs of truth about chiropractic medicine since it is still holistic by large, but since most chiropractic patients experience amazing results, its hard to pull the curtain on chiropractic lower back muscle treatment. Acupuncture Thin, pre-sterilized, disposable needles are used by acupuncture treatments to re-establish the proper flow of blood through the back, alleviating lower back muscle pain. The resulting flow increases circulation for oxygen, blood and lymph nodes work together...
Back Pain Medication
... relieving pain and addressing several of the symptoms related to an episode of back pain. In addition to nonprescription drugs, back pain medications may also be procured through a doctor's prescription. Acetaminophen One of the two types of over the counter back pain medication, acetaminophen is a pain reliever drug that acts by switching Lower Back Pain off the brain's pain perception. In this regard, it is unlike any other back pain medications, which are mostly anti-inflammatory in addition to being pain killers. The common dosage of this back pain medication may be up to 1000 mg taken every four hours, provided that no more than 4000 mg is taken within 24 hours. The fast acting pain relieving effect of this back pain medication makes this drug perhaps the single most effective drug to treat the condition and associated pain. Additionally, this back pain medication is recommended mainly because: * It has few side effects. * There is no chance of addiction. * Tolerance level of patients...
Upper Back Pain
Often the cause is muscular irritation, or what is termed as myofascial pain, and joint dysfunction. However, upper back pain may also result if there is injury to a disc in the upper back, such as a herniated disc or degenerated disc. About the Upper Back Your upper back is sometimes referred to as the thoracic spine, middle back or mid-back. "Thoracic" means that it pertains to the chest. Unlike the cervical spine (neck) and the lumbar spine (lower back), your upper back is not built for much mobility. Instead, it is there mainly for support: to keep us stable as we stand upright and to protect the vital internal organs in the chest. Because of this unique design of the upper back, it rarely...
Back Pain in the Lower Right Side
... a specialist or risk permanent disability. And it requires immediate medical attention in order to prevent complications such as organ dysfunction (especially true with other hernia cases), gangrene, or even paralysis and death. Repairing hernias involve surgical procedures but in most cases non life threatening. One common denominator is also kidney stones. Kidney stones have the habit of radiating pain to the lower right quadrant of the back. On early stages the pain is somewhat vague, just a dull back pain in the lower right side or left that come and go. After some time, the pain will increase spreading to other areas on the groin. Always see a doctor, as this ailment requires professional help. You can help yourself by drinking enough water to make 2.5 liters. Avoid foods rich in protein, nitrogen Lower Back Pain and sodium. Irritable bowel syndrome may also be causing you back pain on the lower right side. This vague and widespread cramp like pain is often accompanied by stomach bloating and tiredness, gas and occasional nausea. Irritable...
Back And Leg Pain
... stenosis mostly affects men and the middle aged to the elderly, although it could also occur in women and younger patients. Back and leg pain is the earliest complaint of this condition, which is often treated with some of the self-care methods available. This results in delay in diagnosis. Sciatica Sciatica is a condition affecting the sciatic nerve. Since this nerve travels from the lower back through the buttocks and into the leg, the pain often occurs in any of these affected areas. Back and leg pain as a result of sciatica can be more or less severe and is caused by a herniated lumbar disc. The degeneration (herniation) of the disc causes it to compress onto one of the contributing roots of the sciatic nerve, causing sharp back and leg pains...
Kidney Back Pain
... if your back pain is a symptom of kidney infection? There are various means by which you can differentiate kidney back pain from normal back pain. But the most common method is to find out where the pain is coming from. Now, some sufferers of kidney back pain will find this a little difficult to accomplish since it feels like the pain is coming from all over the body with no one source of pain. However, if you concentrate and try to focus on where the pain comes from instead of how the pain is making you feel, it should not take you long to identify the source of the pain. You will know if it is kidney back pain because the pain stems from the area...