Low back pain is a common public health problem. Almost every individual suffers from back pain at some point in their life. These pains can be very severe and may not respond to many treatments. However, low back pain can be treated with simple approaches in many patients. There are effective treatment methods when these approaches are not successful.
Pain may be dull, stinging or stabbing. Pain can restrict movement, and sometimes it is even impossible for the patient to stand upright. Acute low back pain usually develops suddenly after sports or heavy lifting. Pain that lasts more than three months is considered chronic. If your pain does not get better within 72 hours, you should consult a doctor.
Severe lower back pain after a fall or injury should be checked by a doctor. Other findings to consider: These may include loss of bowel or bladder control, leg weakness, fever, and pain when coughing or urinating. If you have any of these symptoms along with low back pain, consult your doctor.
What Causes Low Back Pain?
Low back pain as a result of very heavy exercise and heavy lifting. It usually occurs due to muscle strain. But sometimes lower back pain can be related to a herniated or ruptured disc. This disc can put pressure on the nerves where the sciatic nerve originates, causing pain radiating from the hips to the legs. This is also called sciatica pain.
If your job requires you to lift, pull, or overuse your spine, this can also contribute to lower back pain. However, back pain may also occur in people who sit at a desk all day and have a hunched posture.
Excessive exercise can also cause back pain by causing excessive tension in the muscles. If you stay inactive throughout the week and focus on exercise on the weekends, back pain may be triggered again.
Our mothers were very right when they said“Stay upright, my child”. Our waist supports our weight best when we stand upright. This means; When we sit, there should be support at the waist (possible as a pillow), shoulders behind and a low support under the feet; While standing, we should distribute our weight equally on both feet.
The vertebrae that connect the spine are connected to each other. They are attached to their bones by gel-like discs. These discs can weaken with aging and minor trauma. A weakened disc may rupture or herniate and put pressure on the nerve roots. This is known as a herniated disc and can cause serious pain.
Some chronic conditions can also cause low back pain:
- Spinal stenosis (Stenosis): when the area surrounding the spinal cord narrows, the nerves may be under pressure.
- Spondylitis: low back pain, stiffness and stiffness caused by severe inflammation or calcification of the joints in the spine
- Fibromyalgia: widespread muscle pain that also affects the waist
Most people first experience low back pain in their 30s. The frequency and severity of these pains increases with age. Other causes of lower back pain:
- Excessive weight
- Inactive lifestyle
- Work that requires lifting heavy loads
How is the diagnosis made for the cause of low back pain?
In order for your doctor to make a correct diagnosis of your low back pain, your doctor will ask you about the character of your pain, its duration, frequency, conditions that increase and decrease it, your accompanying complaints and other diseases. It will ask whether or not. In connection with these, you will be asked for some blood and imaging tests. Imaging methods that may be requested:
- Direct x-rays
- Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) )
What can be done to relieve lower back pain?
Lower back pain caused by muscle strain usually heals on its own. But you can take some precautions to make yourself more comfortable. Your pain may be relieved with rest, thermophore or a warm bath.
Bed rest ???
When your back hurts, you may not want to get out of bed. But if the cause is muscle strain, we want you to return to your normal activities as soon as possible. Because bed rest for more than 2-3 days can increase pain by decreasing muscle strength and flexibility.
Yoga
If lower back pain does not go away even though it does not progress for 3 months Yoga may help. Yoga is a stretching exercise Therefore, it will contribute to the coordinated functioning of the muscles. Apart from this, general stretching exercises may also be useful. However, what you need to pay attention to is that your yoga teacher is experienced and performs movements aimed at your discomfort.
Waist pulling and manipulation
Struggling done by unconscious hands can worsen your back pain. It can also cause irreversible nerve damage, such as A significant portion of the patients who come to pain and surgery clinics are patients who apply after such procedures performed by untrained people.
Massage
Massage relieves chronic low back pain, especially stretching exercises. It can relieve it when combined with.
Acupuncture
The place of acupuncture in the treatment of low back pain is controversial. In one study, the effectiveness was found to be similar in patients who received acupuncture and those who had a toothpick inserted into their waist. Dry needle therapy can be applied for relaxation only in those who have pain due to muscle spasm. However, such patients can also recover spontaneously. Acupuncture and similar methods cannot treat a herniated disc or narrow spinal canal.
Injections and minimally invasive interventions
If your pain does not go away with simple treatments, injections and minimally invasive procedures can be used. Invasive procedures may be applied. These procedures can relieve your pain in the early period and provide treatment in the long term. You can learn the procedures that can treat your pain without the need for surgery in detail in the "Treatment Methods" section of our website.
Surgery
If your pain continues for a long time despite other treatment methods. If so, you may be a surgery candidate. Depending on the cause, the surgeon may remove your hernia, widen the narrow canal, or stabilize your spine with metal instruments.
Physical Therapy
If your pain has limited your activity for a long time, A rehabilitation program can help strengthen your muscles and return you to your daily life. A physical therapist can contribute to your health without harming your waist by performing stretching and strengthening exercises.
Strengthening your waist
There are basically 2 exercises you can do to strengthen your waist muscles. These are flexion and extension exercises. In the flexion exercise, you bend forward on your knees to stretch your waist and hips. In the extension exercise, you develop the muscles that support your spine by bending backwards. An example is raising your legs while lying face down. Depending on the cause of your pain, it may be undesirable for you to do some movements. You should ask your doctor about this.
Preventing low back pain
There is no definitive method to prevent low back pain from occurring with age. However, there are some precautions to consider. These are:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Straighten up with your legs, not your waist
- Ensure your working position is correct
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