How to Prevent and Treat Lower Back Pain
As the most common type of pain in the lumbar area, lower back pain may appear suddenly or slowly develop over time. This painful condition is usually self-treatable and self-diagnosable, and will frequently disappear after two to four weeks. Depending on the cause of the pain, medical providers and top spinal surgeons will suggest varying types of treatment to ensure both comfort and healing. If you have acute pain in your lower back you should consult with a top spinal surgeon near you for help in resolving this issue.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Patients experiencing pain in their lower backs may have strained a muscle or sprained a ligament, the two most common causes of lower back pain. Often, patients can remember exactly how they sustained the injury, whether it was from improper lifting, over-exercising after a prolonged period without exercising, or even poor posture. Other causes that may be more difficult for the affected individual to identify include a fractured or ruptured disk, arthritis or osteoporosis.
Though the causes may vary, the body’s response is often quite similar. After sustaining an injury, the body reacts by causing inflammation to heal the wound. While inflammation may not sound serious, it can cause severe pain, especially in the lower back. With any of these causes, additional symptoms that accompany the lower back pain may include muscle spasms, numbness in the legs, or hip pain.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
Patients experiencing pain in their lower backs may have strained a muscle or sprained a ligament, the two most common causes of lower back pain. Often, patients can remember exactly how they sustained the injury, whether it was from improper lifting, over-exercising after a prolonged period without exercising, or even poor posture. Other causes that may be more difficult for the affected individual to identify include a fractured or ruptured disk, arthritis or osteoporosis.
Though the causes may vary, the body’s response is often quite similar. After sustaining an injury, the body reacts by causing inflammation to heal the wound. While inflammation may not sound serious, it can cause severe pain, especially in the lower back. With any of these causes, additional symptoms that accompany the lower back pain may include muscle spasms, numbness in the legs, or hip pain.
Treatment for Lower Back Pain
Options for treating lower back pain often depend on the cause and severity of the pain. For less severe injuries, taking over-the-counter medication, applying hot or cold compresses and resting the affected area may be enough to alleviate the symptoms. Though these treatments can be done without doctor recommendation, take care not to strain the lower back and further injure the area.
For more severe lower back pain, nonsurgical treatments include prescription muscle relaxants and narcotic medications. The latter are often prescribed to treat acute pain, or sudden-onset pain that has lasted less than three weeks. Narcotics may also be prescribed following a surgical operation. Back braces and Epidural injections are other common treatments that may be used alone or in combination with additional therapies.
Surgery for lower back pain should be undertaken after consulting with a top spinal surgeon near you. They will be able to determine the appropriate treatment for severe lower back pain or lower back pain with underlying causes that do not respond to other treatment attempts for at least six to twelve weeks. Many top spinal surgeons in New Jersey can now perform spinal surgery to alleviate lower back pain in an outpatient procedure with dramatically shorter recovery times than other procedures.
Options for treating lower back pain often depend on the cause and severity of the pain. For less severe injuries, taking over-the-counter medication, applying hot or cold compresses and resting the affected area may be enough to alleviate the symptoms. Though these treatments can be done without doctor recommendation, take care not to strain the lower back and further injure the area.
For more severe lower back pain, nonsurgical treatments include prescription muscle relaxants and narcotic medications. The latter are often prescribed to treat acute pain, or sudden-onset pain that has lasted less than three weeks. Narcotics may also be prescribed following a surgical operation. Back braces and Epidural injections are other common treatments that may be used alone or in combination with additional therapies.
Surgery for lower back pain should be undertaken after consulting with a top spinal surgeon near you. They will be able to determine the appropriate treatment for severe lower back pain or lower back pain with underlying causes that do not respond to other treatment attempts for at least six to twelve weeks. Many top spinal surgeons in New Jersey can now perform spinal surgery to alleviate lower back pain in an outpatient procedure with dramatically shorter recovery times than other procedures.
Prevention of Lower Back Pain
Once the lower back pain has been treated, patients will want to ensure they prevent the symptoms from returning in the future. There are several easy ways to do so that do not require significant time commitments or lifestyle changes. Such options include:
Focused, active prevention will diminish the risk of lower back pain and any flare-ups of the condition, but may not completely alleviate symptoms. For those who are experiencing symptoms of lower back pain, contact a top spinal surgeon near you to discuss further treatment options.
Once the lower back pain has been treated, patients will want to ensure they prevent the symptoms from returning in the future. There are several easy ways to do so that do not require significant time commitments or lifestyle changes. Such options include:
- Core Exercises: Stronger core muscles will not only strengthen the lower back but also improve posture and increase blood flow. Combined, these positive changes will reduce the inflammation that causes lower back pain, and may even remove it altogether.
- Improving Physical Health: Cultivating or continuing a daily exercise routine will improve the body’s well-being and reduce stress on the lower back. Take care to conduct all exercises properly, as carelessness may increase the risk of lower back pain. Drink more water, less alcohol, and eat a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, nuts, fish, and leafy greens to significantly reduce the swelling that causes some lower back pain.
- Proper Lifting: In addition to exercising correctly, proper lifting is important for reducing lower back problems. Always lift heavy items with the legs, not the back, to reduce strain on the lower back. Remember to avoid lifting by bending forward as this could also put unnecessary strain on the lower back.
- Stretching: Avoid sitting for long periods of time and stretch the hamstrings frequently to reduce pressure on the pelvis and the lower back. Regular practice of yoga or other similar dynamic stretches will also help reduce lower back pain.
Focused, active prevention will diminish the risk of lower back pain and any flare-ups of the condition, but may not completely alleviate symptoms. For those who are experiencing symptoms of lower back pain, contact a top spinal surgeon near you to discuss further treatment options.