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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Dr. Kenzo Kase invented and developed the Kinesio Taping method over 30 years ago. The Kinesio Taping method is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It successfully treats a variety of orthopaedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 30m Continuous Roll comes in a box designed for convenient dispensing and features Mueller’s revolutionary wave adhesive pattern for effective rehabilitation of sore, weak or damaged muscles or joints.
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Try the Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – 5m Continuous Roll for rapid rehabilitation for your sore, weak or injured muscles and joints. With its revolutionary wave pattern adhesive, it will lift your skin as you move to optimize your circulation and promote early recovery to full health.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Kinesiology Tape – I-Strip Roll will lift the skin to promote blood and lymphatic circulation and reduce pain. It is designed to treat ligament injuries and repetitive stress injuries such as carpal tunnel. It is used by Olympians and professional athletes to reduce muscular pain, increase their mobility and speed their recovery from injuries.
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The InnoTech LumbAir Plus back rest features adjustable comfort settings, is portable and can be used to relieve either neck or back pain. Take it with you on vacation or business trips. Covered by health insurance plans and Made in Canada.
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Motion Medicine is an analgesic that reduces pain and swelling from injuries or muscle soreness and increases your range of motion. It speeds wound healing and reduces the neutrophil by-products which cause inflammation.
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The PostureMedic Posture Perfector will help you specifically target the neck and back muscles that play a key role in maintaining proper posture and avoiding lower back pain.
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The Kinesio Pre Cut Starter Set – Knee, Back, Neck, Wrist,Foot, Shoulder combo set includes a Kinesio Pre Cut for the wrist, knee, neck, foot, back and shoulder. Each pre cut comes with instructions and illustrated guides to help you apply the tape for maximum benefit.
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Kinesio® Pre-Cut, not a slap on solution. Kinesio® Pre-Cuts are true field tested Kinesio taping applications. Each Kinesio® Pre-Cut is adjustable and designed for easy application. For the Back, Neck, Knee, Wrist and Foot. Each application comes with easy to follow, step-by-step application instruction, as well as measurement guides on the paper backing to adjust to your needs.
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Try Rub A535 for its instant warming relief of stiff and sore muscles and joint pain. 100g tube available in both maximum & regular strength versions.
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Designed to relieve lower back pain and aids in preventing loss of muscle tissue. Made with neoprene to assist in retaining heat in lower back as well as offering maximum compression when the outside hooks and loop closures are tightened.
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Designed to relieve pain associated with sacroiliac and lumbar joint dysfunction and also helps prevent sprains of supporting ligaments. Features two pliable stays and four aluminum stays which can be removed.
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Sombra Cosmetics warm pain relieving gel will help reduce joint stiffness and pain and promote improved blood circulation through injured tissue. The result will be greater relief from acute or chronic injuries and faster healing through improved circulation.
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The McDavid Waist Trimmer helps relieve minor back pain and/or may enhance weight loss efforts via therapeutic heat. This brace cushions, compresses, and supports lower back and abdominal muscles.
Level 3: Maximum Protection – Core support and as part of a comprehensive weight loss program
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The LP X-Tremus Back Support features an X pattern Stable Contoured Structure that provides lumbar spine encirclement protection and a C pattern Magic Power Band contoured to fit the core muscles.
