Acute and Chronic Lower Back Pain

In fact, there are numerous causes of lower back pain, including a herniated intervertebral disk.

Lifting heavy furniture is just one of the many activities that contribute indirectly to the appearance of low back pain. The spine being under tremendous pressure, there is a high risk of a herniated disk, causing not only a painful but also an inflammatory syndrome.

Patients who have been diagnosed with low back pain are recommended to follow the precise indications of the doctor. They are also advised to lie in certain positions that will grant relief from the pain. One example is lying with the back on the floor, having a hard pillow rolled under the knees. Both the hips and the knees are bent, the feet resting on a chair. This is one of the most comfortable positions for someone who suffers from low back pain.

Additional treatments for lower back pain include either applications of ice or heat. It is common knowledge that ice, associated with massage therapy can provide relief from pain. Heat will always be applied to relieve muscle spasms. Chronic lower back pain is harder to treat, patients following sessions of physical therapy and taking pain-relieving medication. Such problems can be caused by excessive weight, thus these patients will be recommended to lose several pounds. A program exercise for improving muscle strength and posture will be established.

Exercising on a regular basis, wearing low heels and lifting heavy objects in the right position are just few of the things that prevent lower back pain. Staying in shape is essential, as a sedentary lifestyle is one of the main causes of such painful conditions. One should always stretch the back muscles, engaging in activities that are both pleasant and useful. Swimming and jogging are two of the main sports that one can easily take in order to reduce the chances of lower back pain.

In medical literature, this condition is also presented as lumbago. Depending on the symptoms, the patient can be diagnosed with either acute or chronic lower back pain. Identifying cases of acute lumbago, doctors discover the patient to have a herniated disk or a muscle/ligament strain. Car accidents and sports injuries can also lead to acute low back pain. Sometimes, the pain can be quite intense, affecting the coccyx or leading to the dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint. Chronic lumbago appears as a consequence of other diseases such as arthritis, disc degenerative disease or vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis.

Lower back pain has also been identified in patients with spondylitis (inflammatory disease), cancer of the bone or Paget’s disease. It is called referred when it represents a type of pain that is felt in the lower part of the back but it actually originates from another part of the body, such as pelvis or prostate.

There have been mentioned already a few treatment suggestions. In case of chronic lower back pain, the doctor might decide to administer muscle relaxants and also acupuncture. Physical therapy is of course one of the most essential treatment courses, with cardio workout and stretching exercises included. Surgery is often performed in the case of herniated disks but also when the patient has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture, trauma or hematoma. Newer techniques have been discovered for patients suffering from degenerative disc disease, special materials being used to create artificial disks. These are introduced instead of the broken ones, allowing the patient to benefit from a speedy recovery.