Lower back pain can be caused by injury or overuse. Examples are sprains, strains, fractures or other injuries to the many small joints between the bones of the spine. It is one of the leading causes of missed work days in North America. In addition, it affects almost every adult at some point in his or her life.
Although there are a large number of possible causes of lower back pain, a precise diagnosis is made in only a small proportion of cases.
The good news is that lower (or low) back pain frequently goes away with simple home based remedies. We discuss some of these conservative treatment options in this post. In the comparatively rare cases in which it does not respond to conservative treatments, doctors have several proven remedies for it.
The lower back is the area of the back that extends downwards from just below the ribcage to the buttock creases. This region is also called the lumbar region. Pain in this area is commonly described as lower back pain to distinguish it from upper back pain. People with lower back pain sometimes have pain in the upper legs as well.
The lower back contains a complex network of bones, nerves and soft tissues. They combine to form a strong and flexible structure that supports the head and upper body. The structure also plays a key role in everyday activities such as bending, twisting and heavy lifting. It even plays a pivotal role in the act of walking. It supports the spinal column and also flexes and rotates the hips during walking or running.
The lower back also contains a network of nerves that control the muscles in the lower body. It also carries sensations and pain from the lower body to the brain via the spinal column.
However, this very complexity renders the area susceptible to injury and, in many cases, pain. Injuries to any of these nerves, muscles or bones can cause lower back pain and inflammation.
When pain occurs, the complexity of the structures in the lower back can often make it difficult to understand its precise source. Sometimes, two very different types of injuries can initially feel very similar. In general, injuries to soft tissues such as muscles or ligaments tend to heal more rapidly than damage to other tissues such as spinal discs.
Low back pain can take on several different forms depending on its underlying cause:
Lower back pain can be categorized among three different types:
This type of pain usually appears without warning. It is usually short term in nature and may last for just a few days or weeks. It is normally a response to a soft tissue injury in the lower back and usually subsides as that injury heals.
This type of low back pain is also caused by a soft tissue injury such as a muscle strain. However, it usually lasts longer than acute pain (possibly between 6 weeks and 3 months). Patients with this type of pain should consult with their healthcare advisors for medical advice & a diagnosis.
This type of lower back pain is more long term in nature and generally lasts for 3 months or longer.
Once it is clear that this pain is not responding to initial home based treatments, affected individuals should seek medical advice, diagnosis & treatment for the problem..
The most common specific cause of acute or subacute types of back pain is a sprain or sprain of back soft tissues. This is usually the result of a pulled muscle or ligament.
The most common causes of chronic low back pain tend to be:
Doctors also sometimes categorize lower back pain according to its underlying cause rather than whether it is acute or chronic. With this type of categorization, the two main categories are mechanical or radicular causes.
This type of lower back pain comes from the muscles, ligaments, joints or bones in or adjacent to the spine. Mechanical pain tends to remain in a narrow area comprising the lower back, buttocks and the top of the legs.
In addition to its localized nature, mechanical low back pain tends to be affected by loading or unloading the spine. (It may also become more or less severe as a result of movements like twisting, standing or sitting.) The pain is usually eased by lying down flat and made worse if the patient moves the back, coughs or sneezes. It typically varies in severity with posture or activity.
In most cases, mechanical pain tends to be acute or subacute in terms of its duration. It is usually the result of a back sprain or strain.
This type of low back pain is usually associated with damage leading to spinal nerve impingement. Typically, this can occur as a result of a herniated disc.
In contrast to the localized nature of mechanical pain, radicular pain can radiate into the buttock area or down one leg.
It also tends to be sharp or burning in nature. It can sometimes be accompanied by numbness or weakness in the lower back or surrounding areas.
Another characteristic of radicular pain is its tendency to occur on one side of the body only.
In addition to mechanical and radicular causes, low back pain can also be a result of the following back problems:
Treatment options for lower back pain include home based remedies, non traditional treatments and surgery.
Home based treatment can be a viable remedy for lower back pain due to a muscle strain or sprain. It can also be effective in reducing the symptoms of severe and chronic pain, although it does not address the fundamental cause.
Home based self care may include some or all of the following:
Some individuals have reported success in easing low back pain by following these non-traditional remedies:
These treatments tend to be used if the home-based ones do not alleviate symptoms and/or if the pain persists for too long (ie becomes subacute or chronic).
The surgical options available for the treatment of low back pain include:
As with home based treatments, a program of physical therapy exercises is an essential component of rehabilitating the patient as (s)he returns to regular activity.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Adjustable Back Brace with Lumbar Pad can help relieve lower back pain as well as support a weak or injured back during the rehabilitation period. It features supportive springs along the spine, a removable lumbar pad and an internal molded plastic component that reduces the incidence of rolling or bunching. The brace also includes dual, outer elastic tension straps that provide a custom and comfortable fit to go with its superior level of support.
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A light weight back brace designed for lower back conditions. Features include a velcro closure and a 9 inch elastic band with foam pad and steel springs and an additional 6 inch outer band for additional support.
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Targeted compression for effective back pain treatment
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Pain relief and stabilization. Promotes proper positioning during healing.
The BioSkin Back Plus combines the pain-relieving benefits of compression with stabilization after an injury or procedure to promote proper positioning during healing. The cinching mechanism allows a patient to easily apply circumferential compression. The shoulder straps anchor the shoulders to the back panel, limiting thoracic and lumbar flexion, extension, and rotation.
Includes two hot/cold gel pads that attach to the lumbar panel to enhance patient comfort and maximize pain relief.
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Customize your back pain treatment
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Low-profile support for muscle strains and posture
Treat lumbar sprains, pain from overuse, muscle strains, and develop better back posture with the BioSkin Back Skin with Flexible Support. It’s designed with a narrow cut in the front and flexible stays on the sides so when sitting or bending the brace remains pliable and doesn’t impinge on the groin area or into the rib cage. Customize your back pain treatment by choosing from our lumbar support accessories
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Low-profile support for muscle strains and posture
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Level 3: Maximum Protection – Core support and helping to relieve non-specific back pain
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It’s a Cinch, 41% reduction in low back pain
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A recent study using the bilateral cinching mechanism of the Baja 627 showed an average reduction in VAS scores of 40% and a 41% improvement in Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire scores in patients with chronic low back pain.
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