Lumbar or Lower Back Pain

Lumbar or lower back pain affects nearly 80 percent of the adult U.S. population. A problematic low back affects the spine's flexibility, stability and strength adversely, which may lead to discomfort and stiffness in the area.

Signs and Symptoms

- Tenderness, stiffness and pain in the lower back

- Pain aggravating into the legs

- Uneasiness while sitting

- Difficulty in standing erect or in one position for long durations

- Leg fatigue while walking

The Origin

The root cause of low back pain can be a tough nut to crack. Low back pain is usually caused due to strain from lifting, twisting or bending. This denotes spine inflexibility; that you are not in proper health.

Some forms of low back pain are indicators of more serious complications, as infections, rheumatic or arthritic conditions and ovarian cysts. A ruptured or bulging disk may be the culprit.

Compression fractures of the spinal bones may also cause lumber back pain, more so in elderly women suffering from osteoporosis.

Poor fitness levels, smoking, dissatisfaction from life are known to exacerbate a person's risks of running into lumber back problems.

A visit to the Doctor

A good doctor will:

- Ask you to sit, stand, and move.

- Check your reflexes and response to touch, pinprick or slight heat.

He or she may also advise strength testing on a treadmill. You may also require a blood test, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Treatment Options

The safest thing to treat lumber back pain is to change your lifestyle. Exercise to strengthen your back muscles, maintain a healthy weight, practice good posture, and you will either prevent back pain for life or will feel relieved if already suffering from it.

Learning to lift and bend in a spine-friendly way, sleeping on a firm mattress, sitting on chairs which provide adequate support to the spine, and finally, wearing proper shoes will reward your efforts to relieve back pain.

Therapies

- Drug Therapy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, popularly known as NSAIDs can help relieve low back pain. Examples of NSAIDs are Ibuprofen (brand name Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (brand name Aleve, Naprosyn)

• Muscle relaxants, example gratia carisoprodole (Soma®) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril®).
• Oral or epidural steroids also reduce inflamation.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated