Lower back pain (lumbago) is not a disorder. It’s a symptom. It usually refers to a problem with one or more parts of the lower back like:
It can also describe pain caused by a problem with nearby organs, like the kidneys or lungs.
According to the American Associate of Neurological Surgeons, 75 to 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain in their lifetime. Fifty percent of those will have more than one episode. Although it can be painful, in 90 percent of all cases, the pain goes away without surgery. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing back pack.
Understanding the Back
To understand the causes of lower back pain it helps to understand the back. Your back is composed of many parts, including:
The lower spine is one of the keys to low back pain. It’s made up of:
What Causes Back Pain?
The most common causes of lower back pain are strain and problems with back structures.
Strain
Strained muscles and ligaments often cause back pain. Strain commonly occurs with incorrect lifting of heavy objects and sudden awkward movements. Strain can also result from over-activity. An example is the sore feeling and “stiffness” that might occur after a few hours of yard work or after playing a sport.
Structural Problems
Vertebrae are the interlocking bones stacked on top of one another at the back of the torso or trunk of your body. Disks made of cartilage cushion the area between each vertebra. Disk injuries are a fairly common cause of back pain.
Sometimes these disks can bulge (herniate) or rupture. Nerves can get compressed when this happens. Herniated disks can be very painful. A bulging disk pressing on the nerve that travels from your back down your leg can cause sciatica or irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be experienced as a pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the leg.
Abnormalities of the skeleton can also cause back pain. This includes scoliosis or narrowing of the spinal canal due to arthritis.
Loss of bone density and thinning of the bone (osteoporosis) is very and can lead to fractures in your vertebrae. These fractures can cause serious pain and are referred to as compression fractures.
Other Causes of Back Pain
There are many other potential causes of back pain, but most of these are rare. Be sure to see your doctor if you experience regular back pain that does not go away. After ruling out the more common causes of back pain, your doctor will perform tests to determine if you have a more rare cause. These can include:
What Are the Characteristics of Back Pain?
Back pain can have many symptoms including:
The symptoms of back pain, if due to strain or misuse, are usually short-lived but can last for days or weeks. Back pain is chronic when symptoms have been present for longer than three months.
Back Pain Symptoms That May Indicate a Serious Problem
The Mayo Clinic recommends you see your doctor if back pain does not improve within the first 72 hours of self-care. There are times when back pain can be a symptom of a serious medical problem. Symptoms that can indicate a more serious medical problem are:
Risk Factors For Back Pain
You are at an increased risk for back pain if you:
Studies show that your emotional health also has an effect on your risk for back pain. You are at a high risk for back pain if you have a stressful job or suffer from depression and anxiety.
How Is Back Pain Diagnosed?
A physical exam is typically all that’s needed to diagnose back pain. During the physical exam, your doctor will test the range of motion of your spine and your ability to sit, stand, and walk. The doctor may also test your reflexes, leg strength, and your ability to detect sensations in your legs.
If a more serious condition is suspected, your doctor might order other tests. These might include:
Treatment
Medication
The majority of back pain episodes are relieved by treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Pain relievers (analgesics) like acetaminophen (Tylenol) are also an option. Except for acetaminophen, these medications should be taken with food because they can irritate the stomach and cause it to bleed.
If back pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe medications that contain a narcotic such as codeine. Low-dose amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, can also relieve back pain.
Your doctor might recommend cortisone steroid injections for severe back pain. Pain relief from steroid injections lasts no longer than a few months. The body builds up immunity to the effects of cortisone.
Home Remedies
Ice packs may relieve discomfort and help lessen inflammation in acute phases of back pain. Warm compresses may relieve pain when inflammation has subsided.
Exercises to improve posture and strengthen the muscles of the back and abdominal muscles (core muscles) are a treatment option that should be strongly considered. Improving posture, using proper lifting techniques, and having muscles help to prevent recurrences.
Surgery
Surgery is a treatment of last resort and is rarely needed for back pain. It’s usually reserved for structural abnormalities that have not responded to conservative treatment, severe, unremitting pain, and nerve compression that cause muscles to become weak.
Spinal fusion is a surgery in which painful vertebrae are fused into one single, more solid bone. It helps eliminate painful motion of the spine.
Surgery to partially remove and replace disks and vertebrae may be done to relieve pain caused by degenerative bone diseases.
Alternative Medicine
According to the Mayo Clinic, devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens, a plant in the sesame family) and willow bark (Salix alba) taken orally and capsicum (Capsicum frutescens, chili pepper) plaster applied topically may relieve low back pain. These herbs are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Other alternative therapies include:
Be sure to talk to your doctor before undergoing any alternative or complementary treatment.
