Most people have suffered from lower back pain at least once in their lives, and up to one-third of the world’s population suffers from chronic lower back pain, which is annoying and hinders the practice of normal daily life.
What is lower back pain?
Also called back pain, it is pain that affects part of the back, starting from the lower third of the spine and extending to the coccyx, i.e. below the rib cage from the back. The pain ranges from mild to bouts of sharp, sharp pain that are sudden muscle spasms.
Some people have pain for only a few days, while others have lower back pain for a long time.
Types of lower back pain
There are three main types of lower back pain:
• Acute low back pain lasts only a few days or weeks and is usually caused by trauma or transient stress.
• Chronic lower back pain lasts for three months or more and may be caused by a chronic condition such as arthritis. • Recurrent lower back pain comes and goes and may be the result of a chronic condition or unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as wrong standing, poor posture, and carrying weights.
What are the symptoms of lumbago?
Back pain may be mild or severe, depending on the cause. Additional symptoms may include:
• Numbness in the leg or foot
Pain that spreads to the entire lower extremity
• Cramping and spasms of the lower back muscles
• Tingling, numbness, or numbness in the leg or foot
• Weakness or paralysis in the muscles and movements of the leg or foot
what are the reasons?
Your lower back is made up of many complex bones, ligaments, and muscles. Injuries can result from an active lifestyle, and the extra effort and tears damage these structures, causing lower back pain.
Any changes in the structures of the lower back may cause pain. These compositions include:
• Disc-shaped cartilaginous discs between the spongy vertebrae bones. The discs can bulge, called a bulging disc, or a ruptured disc, called a herniated nucleus pulposus, can put pressure on the adjacent nerve root.
• The joints are the connective tissues that hold the bones of the spine together. Joints can degenerate from their normal position, causing their range of motion to malfunction, which can lead to lower back pain.
• Muscles, which contract to help move the body. They can strain, stretch and tear after applying too much pressure during exercise or work.
Is lower back pain serious?
Low back pain often gets better after two weeks. But if the pain becomes chronic, and prevents the practice of daily activities or makes the patient awake at night, then additional investigations such as radiographs of all kinds and the necessary analyzes must be carried out. The casualty should be alerted to see a doctor immediately if lower back pain is the result of a traumatic injury, such as a fall from a height or a car accident.
Low back pain diagnosis
The doctor performs detailed tests and asks questions to find the source of the pain. When did it start, and what other symptoms did the patient experience?
The examination may also include imaging tests to help the doctor determine the cause of the pain, including:
• CT scan (computed tomography): Specialized computers use X-rays to create a view of the bones and joints.
• 3D tomography: It produces 3D images of bones and joints with more detail.
• Magnetic resonance imaging: An electromagnet is used to create cross-sectional images with three dimensions levels of soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• X-ray: uses small and safe amounts of radiation to take pictures of the spine and is considered the basis for ancillary investigations.
Low back pain treatment
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the cornerstone of drug therapy in addition to analgesics and central and peripheral muscle relaxants.
• Sacroiliac and Caudal injection: The doctor injects a pain reliever with long-acting anesthetics and anti-inflammatory substances such as steroids into the lower spine into the spinal canal in a safe area. The injected substance spreads through the spinal canal to help relieve pain and dismantle degenerative fibrosis to give additional flexibility to the ligaments around the facet joints.
• Local injection: it can be unguided or directed with the help of radiography and ultrasound (Echo) of the posterior joints of the vertebrae and the sacroiliac joint and in the affected tissues to help feel better. The injections can delay the need for surgery or help you avoid it altogether.
• Chiropractic care: The chiropractor applies gentle pressure to guide the bones and joints back to their normal position.
• Physiotherapy: Therapists can help improve flexibility and range of motion in the lower back through special exercises. Massage therapists relax tight back muscles and ligaments with targeted therapy.
• Surgery: If you have a structural problem in your back and your non-invasive conservative treatment options do not relieve the pain, you may need surgery.
