Lumbago: What is Low Back Pain & How Do You Relieve the Symptoms?

Low back pain or lumbago describes the pain that occurs somewhere below your ribs, but above your legs. It’s possible to injure your back when you are reaching, twisting, or lifting.

In fact, the truth is that nearly everyone has experienced low back pain at one time or another and has asked questions about how to relieve lower back pain.

Causes of Low Back Pain

According to the experts, the most common reasons for low back pain include the following:

Injury/Overuse: this includes things such as sprains/strains of the soft tissues (ligaments or muscles), injury to the small joints between spinal bones, and fractures/compression fractures of bones

this includes things such as sprains/strains of the soft tissues (ligaments or muscles), injury to the small joints between spinal bones, and fractures/compression fractures of bones Pressure on the nerve roots due to conditions including spinal stenosis and herniated discs

due to conditions including spinal stenosis and herniated discs Osteoarthritis: this is typically due to the aging process- there’s not really anything that can be done to prevent it. When osteoarthritis affects the spinal joints, it can cause low back pain by causing the joints to become stiff/sore and putting pressure on the nerve roots. Osteoarthritis can affect other joints which can cause you to make changes to the way you walk- which can ultimately lead to back pain.

There are some less common spinal conditions that can result in back pain such as:

Ankylosing Spondylitis: a type of arthritis that typically affects the spine

a type of arthritis that typically affects the spine Bacterial infection in bones, spinal cord, or spinal discs

in bones, spinal cord, or spinal discs Spinal tumors: growths on the bones/ligaments of the spine, on nerve roots, or on the spinal cord

Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

The symptoms of your lower back pain will be heavily dependent upon what is causing it. Here are some of the common causes and the symptoms they relate to:

Back Sprain/Strain: symptoms include cramping, stiffness, and muscle spasms. You will experience pain in your back and in some cases, your buttock. The pain may occur quickly or slowly and typically occurs in what is referred to as episodes. You will find that certain movements seem to aggravate it and others seem to make it feel better. The majority of the pain will typically last from about 48-72 hours and could be followed by several days to several weeks of pain that is less severe.

symptoms include cramping, stiffness, and muscle spasms. You will experience pain in your back and in some cases, your buttock. The pain may occur quickly or slowly and typically occurs in what is referred to as episodes. You will find that certain movements seem to aggravate it and others seem to make it feel better. The majority of the pain will typically last from about 48-72 hours and could be followed by several days to several weeks of pain that is less severe. Pressure on Nerve Root: symptoms include leg pain- but if the leg pain extends below the knee, chances are that it’s a nerve issue rather than a muscle issue. This pain typically starts at the buttock and goes down the leg to the ankle/foot. This is a condition referred to as sciatica. If you have pressure on your nerve root, you may experience weakness in one leg or foot, both legs, or just your lower leg. You may also experience tingling and/or numbness. If the weakness, numbness, or tingling is occurring in both legs, and is accompanied by loss of bowel and/or bladder control, you could have cauda equine syndrome- which means you need immediate medical attention.

Arthritis of the Spine

Typically, the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the spine includes:

Pain that is concentrated in the back/hip areas

Starts out gradually, worsens with time, and lasts for more than 3-6 months

Typically is worse upon waking first thing in the morning or after a long period of being sedentary. The truth is that the pain associated with arthritis actually gets better when you’re moving around

Other Conditions of the Spine

The symptoms that are indicative of certain conditions that affect the spine depend upon the condition itself. These symptoms could include the following:

The pain is worse in the area of the spine that is being affected (for example, if you have an infection, tumor, or compression fracture)

The pain is progressive, is ongoing/continuous, and can be a mild, dull ache or can be sharp pains. You won’t find relief by getting rest- and actually rest could aggravate the condition. The pain will typically last for more than 2-3 weeks

The pain may wake you up from your sleep

You may experience fever with the pain/achiness

Your spine could be sensitive to touch/pressure

Keep in mind that the course of your low back pain is dependent upon the cause and how well you take care of your back. In most cases, low back pain will clear up within a few weeks- but once you have experienced back pain one time, your risk of experiencing it again in the future increases.

Many individuals who recover from their pain will have it again within one year- and most are going to have it again at some point during the course of their lives.

When your pain becomes chronic- that is long-lasting- you will become irritable, tired, and you won’t be nearly as productive or active as you have been in the past. Plus, it can also lead to other issues. For example, if your back pain is severe enough to make you make changes to the way that you are using your body (limping or sitting differently), you may experience pain in other areas of your body.

In addition, pain can result in some biochemical changes in your body that will keep the pain going and if you don’t find ways to properly treat the condition causing the pain, you could end up developing what is referred to as chronic pain syndrome.

What Factors Increase Your Risk for Back Pain?

There are several risk factors that increase your likelihood of experiencing back pain. If you have one or more of the following risk factors, then your chances of experiencing back pain will increase:

Physical Factors

Being male

Injured back in the past

Family history of back pain

Middle age or older

Compression fractures of the spine

Spine problems from birth

Previous back surgeries

Pregnancy (when a woman is carrying a baby, her back is put under significant stress)

Risk Factors Associated with Lifestyle

Not getting enough proper exercise

Doing an activity/job that requires you to sit for a long period of time, lift heavy objects, twisting, bending, constant vibration (driving certain types of equipment or using heavy equipment such as jackhammers, and repetitive motions

Individuals who smoke are much more likely to experience back pain than those who do not

Individuals who are overweight could be much more likely to experience back pain, especially if they carry their extra weight around their waist. However, this theory has not yet been proven. Of course, it is true that individuals who are overweight are typically in bad physical condition, less flexible, and have weaker muscles. All of these factors are associated with lumbago.

Individuals who practice poor posture are likely to experience back pain. However, while the slumping/slouching may not necessarily be the cause of the back pain, after your back has been injured or strained, practicing bad posture could cause the pain to become worse. Good posture is indicated by your hips, shoulders, and ears being in alignment. If this position is painful, chances are you have some other condition such as issues with the bones or discs in your back.

Individuals who are under high stress levels could experience low back pain. According to the experts, it’s thought that perhaps stress/other emotional factors have some role in low back pain- especially chronic pain. Many times, individuals who are under stress will unconsciously tighten their muscles- including their back muscles.

Risk Factors Affected by Medical Treatment

Individuals who are depressed/anxious for long periods of time are more likely to experience back pain.

Medications such as corticosteroids, when used long-term, could weaken the bones and lead to back pain.

Illnesses or conditions that cause chronic coughing could lead to back pain.

Diagnosing Low Back Pain

When you visit your physician for your low back pain, he/she is going to start by asking you several questions regarding your medical history, symptoms, and your work and/or physical activity. He/she will then do a physical examination.

These questions and the subsequent exam will help to find out if there are any serious causes for your pain. Your physician may also ask some questions regarding any stress at home and/or at work that could cause you to be more likely to experience chronic pain.

If you have been experiencing back pain for less than 6 weeks, it’s best if you wait on doing any testing due to the fact that in most cases, back pain will dissipate in about a month or so all on its own. However, if your back issues have lasted for more than 6 weeks or if you have consulted your physician and he/she believes it could be something more than muscle pain, it could be time to be tested.

If your physician does decide to do testing, he/she will utilize the following:

MRI

CT Scan

X-ray

There are some other tests that may be useful for testing low back pain such as an electromyogram, bone scan, or nerve conduction test. Physicians use these to determine if you have any muscle, nerve, or bone problems that could be causing your lower back pain.

Treating Lower Back Pain

In most cases, you will see an improvement in your lower back pain with first aid. This includes taking common OTC medications and only doing light activity such as walking. One of the best and simplest exercises for treating lower back pain is walking.

It helps improve blood flow and ensures that your muscles remain strong. Your physician or PT (physical therapist) may be able to recommend some specific exercises to assist with strengthening your back muscles, including what is known as core stabilization.

When you strengthen the muscles in your trunk, you can enhance your posture, which keeps your body balanced and decreases your risk of becoming injured.

Of course, if you have severe symptoms or your symptoms persist after two weeks of taking care of yourself, it’s time to visit your physician. He/she may determine that you need a stronger pain medication or perhaps you’d benefit from some other treatment.

There are several treatment options for back pain- each one may or may not work for you. You may need to go through the process of elimination to figure out what works for you and what does not. Some of the treatment options include the following:

Massage

Spinal manipulation

Acupuncture/acupressure

Ongoing, or chronic, low back pain can cause you to become depressed and/or anxious- which can also have an effect on your pain level and recovery time.

Individuals who have chronic pain and are depressed and/or anxious will often benefit from taking prescription antidepressants and going to counseling. The counseling sessions can be effective for showing you ways to manage your stress and pain levels.

Preventing Lower Back Pain

After you have experienced a bout of lower back pain, chances are that you’re going to have it again at some point in your lifetime. It may be a week later it may be several years, but it’s most likely going to happen again. However, there are a few things that you can do to avoid it- plus, these will help you to recover much faster in the future when it does happen again. Here are a few things you can do:

When you are standing, sitting, or walking make sure that you are practicing good posture- which means that your hips, shoulders, and ears are in alignment.

Regularly participate in low impact exercises, such as riding a stationary bike, walking, or swimming. Make sure that you take the time to stretch before you start your exercise.

Try sleeping on your side instead of your back or stomach.

Keep an eye on your weight- avoid gaining too much.

As much as possible, avoid lifting things that are too heavy for you and when you do have to lift something, make sure that you learn the proper way to do it.

If you have a job that requires prolonged sitting or standing, make sure that you do the following: Sit/stand up straight, shoulders back Take breaks regularly to take a quick stroll Get a chair that fits you properly and has good support for your back

If you have a job that requires lots of bending, lifting, or reaching, make sure that you do the following: Visit your HR department to work on finding other ways you can do your work Never depend upon a “back belt” to offer you protection



Back pain, especially lower back pain (lumbago) is a very common occurrence. Nearly everyone has experienced lower back pain at some point in their lives. Once you have experienced back pain once, your risk of experiencing it again in the future is increased. It could happen again in the next few weeks, or it may be years before it happens again.

On the other hand, it could be a chronic symptom that never completely goes away.

There are plenty of options available. You don’t have to automatically turn to medications or surgery. Of course, no matter what you do, it’s a good idea to speak with your physician before you do anything- especially if it is long lasting. You want to make sure that there’s not a more serious underlying condition that is causing your pain.