Low Back Pain is a common disorder involving the muscles, nerves and bones. The pain varies from ache to a sudden sharp feeling. You may also have back stiffness, decreased movement of the lower back, and difficulty standing straight.

Types of Low Back Pain:

  • ACUTE BACK PAIN (1 WEEK)
  • CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN (3 MONTHS)
  • MECHANICAL, PATHOLOGICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL

Causes of sudden low back pain include:

  1. Compression fractures in the spine from osteoporosis
  2. Cancer involving the spine
  3. Fracture of the spinal cord
  4. Muscle spasm (very tense muscles)
  5. Ruptured or herniated disc
  6. Sciatica
  7. Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
  8. Spine curvatures (like scoliosis or kyphosis), which may be inherited and seen in children or teens
  9. Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back

Low back pain may also be due to:

  1. An abnormal aortic aneurysm that is leaking
  2. Arthritis conditions, such as osteoarthritis, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis
  3. Infection of the spine 
  4. Kidney infection or kidney stones
  5. Problems related to pregnancy
  6. Medical conditions that affect the female reproductive organs, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, or uterine fibroids

PREVENTION:

LIFTING
STANDING
SLEEPING
SITTING

 TREATMENT:

Most of the lower back pain goes away on its own in two to four weeks. Physiotherapy and pain relievers can help. A few cases may require surgery.

Medications: 

  1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: Relieves pain, decreases inflammation and reduces fever.
  2. Analgesic: Relieves pain.
  3. Muscle Relaxant: Reduces muscle tension and helps relieve muscle pain and discomfort.
  4. Narcotic: Relieves pain, dulls the senses and causes drowsiness. May become addictive. 

Self-care:

  1. Heating Pad: Soothes painful muscles or joints and can help drain skin infections.
  2. Physical exercise: Aerobic activity for 20–30 minutes 5 days a week improves cardiovascular health. If injured, pursuing an activity that avoids the injured muscle group or joint can help maintain physical function while recovering.

Therapies:

  1. Joint manipulation: Stretching a joint past its current restricted range of motion to restore movement and reduce pain.
  2. Stretching: Stretching exercises can improve flexibility and improve physical function. 
  3. Physical Therapy: Restores muscle strength and function through exercise.
  4. Massage: Relaxes tense muscles.
  5. Acupuncture: Insertion of needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain and treat other conditions. A form of traditional Chinese medicine. 

Medical procedure:

  1. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: Applying a small electrical current to a part of the body to dull the sensation of pain.
  2. Epidural steroid injection: Injection of cortisone and a numbing agent into the spine. Can relieve back, neck, arm and leg pain. 

Specialists:

  1. Primary Care Provider (PCP): Prevents diagnoses and treats diseases.
  2. Orthopaedic Surgeon: Performs surgery for conditions affecting bones and muscles.
  3. Spine Surgeon: Performs surgery on the spine.
  4. Pain Management: Eases suffering and improves quality of life for those in pain.
  5. Emergency Medicine Doctor: Treats patients in the emergency department.