6. Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, lower back pain is the second most common ailment in the United States.

It is the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. While low back pain is often an irritating and discomforting experience, more often than not it can be prevented and improved with proper exercise and diet.

A patient would either experience acute back pain or chronic lower back pain. Acute or shorter-term back pain often lasts within a very brief period of a few days to a few weeks. Acute lower back pain can be also be caused by injury or trauma. Common causes of acute lower back trauma are sports injury, improper lifting of heavy materials at home or at work, and accidents. Muscle ache, limited flexibility, and shooting or stabbing low back pain are the common symptoms of acute back pain. On the other hand, a chronic lower back pain is distinguished by its longer duration. This means if the low back pain persist for more than 3 months the symptom is consider to be chronic. Generally, chronic lower back pains are progressive and do not occur overnight. Moreover, the cause of the chronic lower back pain is much difficult to pinpoint as disability may have developed through time.

Patients often complain on experiencing pain in the lumbar region of the spinal cord or lower back. This region supports the whole weight of body and assists in maintaining balance throughout the body. Strain or stress in the lower back often causes the discomfort and may aggravate further the condition of the lumbar region. Most often that not, patients complain on lower back pain while lifting a heavy object or overstretching. Improper lifting of heavy objects causes stress in the lower back particularly in muscles or ligaments in the lumbar region. When the spine is overly strained and compressed, a disc may be ruptured and budge outward. The rupture may place unnecessary pressure to the nerves in the spine, which trigger signals to the brain and in turn is perceived as pain.

Depending on the physician’s diagnosis, pain in the lower back occasionally may require surgical treatment in cases where the diagnosis indicates a serious medical problem. An example would be an injury or trauma to the lower back caused a blunt blow in a sport activity such as football. This type of injury may cause permanent disability as nerve roots protected by the spinal column could be damaged by the blow.

While injuries or trauma may occur while part-taking a physical activity, it also important to understand that back pain may occur over time. Inactivity may also cause lower back pain and discomfort over time if not properly address. Therefore it is always important to stay fit and undergo a regular exercise regimen to prevent injuries and improve health.
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Lower Back Pain Causes
Lower Back Pain Relief
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Lower Back Pain Prevention
Lower Back Pain Treatment