Lower Back Pain Doesn’t Have To Rule Your Life

As you read these lines, about 15% of the people in the world suffer from lower back pain to one degree or another. Get another statistic: About 80% of people will experience a significant event of lower back pain during their lifetime. Because the lower back supports most of our body weight, and for that it pays the price.

Anatomy of the back and incidence of lower back pain

About two million years ago our ancestors began to stand up straight and walk on two legs. This evolutionary development has given us many advantages thanks to which, unlike many other species of apes, we have survived the last ice age that ended only about 12,000 years ago. The upright walk leaves the hands free to hold tools and weapons, the head stands high, one can look into the distance and smell the air better and watch their prey!  Animals estimate the strength of potential rivals on their height and that is how humans came to be. The price of the benefits of going for a walk on two we pay to this day, our spine is required to withstand heavy loads, the way the vertebrae move, the variety of poses we need (prolonged sitting is the most problematic among them), all these and more are responsible for so many of us suffering from back pain. Our back begins at the tailbone (located just above the buttocks) and ends at the nape of the neck. The spine consists of 26 to 28 vertebrae, some of which are fused (five vertebrae fused to the tip bone, and three to five vertebrae fused to the sting bone is the tailbone).

In the canal through the center of all the vertebrae of the spine passes the spinal cord, a kind of braid of nerves that carry electrical signals from the brain to the organs of the body and back. Nerves are spread from the spinal cord to the right and left. The back also contains muscles, ligaments, tendons and blood vessels. Many believe that back pain is caused by problems in the spinal vertebrae , but in fact there are pains that originate in the muscles (“busy back” for example), tendons (tear or tendonitis), ligament damage and abnormal blood flow through the blood vessels in the back can also cause pain.

What causes lower back pain?

There are a variety of causes of pain in the lower back area. The variety of options makes it so difficult to identify the source of the problem that it is often impossible to know the exact cause of the pain and the treatment is done by trial and error. Deceptive pain can be caused by a strain, tear or inflammation in a muscle (sometimes a small muscle) or problems such as those in ligaments, tendons or cartilage. Impaired regular blood supply (due to narrowing of blood vessels in the back area) can also cause pain in the lower back area as well as various nerve problems. 

There are risk factors that are known to significantly increase the chance of lower back pain, many of which relate to an unhealthy lifestyle. Of course people also have certain conditions that affect the back, such as Scoliosis. You may want to look at this further by reading – https://scoliosisinstitute.com/adult-scoliosis/. Also, being overweight, prolonged sitting, repeated lifting of heavy loads (especially if it is performed in a way that creates a large load on the lower back), not enough exercise or rather too intense exercise. Among the other ills associated with it, smoking is also among the risk factors for lower back pain. Back pain often results from abrasion processes that occur over the years. This is why they are relatively rare in young people under the age of 30 and become more and more common as we get older. Genetics is known to play a role in the chance of developing lower back pain, those whose parents, grandparents who suffered from problems such as a herniated disc are in a risk group for back pain.

When does lower back pain become dangerous and require immediate medical attention?

It is worth noting that in most cases lower back pain is not dangerous, the symptoms go away without the need for any intervention or with a light intervention that includes actions such as taking painkillers, massage, using a back support belt, adapting a routine of staying in a hot tub or hot tub. When there is a significant disruption in the routine of life it is recommended to consult a doctor who will work to diagnose the source of the problem and prescribe more accurate treatment. It is important to know that there may be cases where a doctor should not be postponed for fear of aggravation of the condition, for example when the pain radiates to the legs, when it is accompanied by general weakness throughout the body, when control loosens or if the condition lasts over six weeks.

Methods of treating lower back pain

There are a large variety of possible treatments for lower back pain, some of which may be very helpful in some cases or may be completely useless. It is important to know that contrary to what we may think there is no reason to rest completely until an improvement in the situation is achieved. In fact, it is advisable to avoid being restless. Moderate exercise such as walking or swimming can be very helpful, heavy lifting should be avoided. Local heating, cooling, or both, may help reduce the level of pain. So are anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain is severe, you can take painkillers that require a doctor’s prescription. Other well-known treatments are using sound waves (ultrasound), chiropractic treatments, massages, physiotherapy and back injections. In cases of lower back pain caused by problems with the vertebrae of the spine, a ruptured disc in their head, surgical intervention may be required. However, you should never suffer for too long with back pain that isn’t easing, so take action today.