Low back pain: causes, symptoms and treatment

Virtually everyone has had lower back pain at some point in their life. The pain that people suffer in this area can be of a very different nature, becoming mild in some cases but very intense in others.

The duration is also variable, but in general low back pain can significantly interfere with our day-to-day life. Today we are going to see what low back pain is and what its causes and symptoms are, as well as knowing what its treatment should be.

• Related article: "How to prevent back pain in 12 effective keys"

What is low back pain?

Low back pain is a pain that affects the spine area, but it is necessary to know a little about its anatomy before anything else.

Basically the spine is formed by the different vertebrae, but also by a whole series of complex structures such as muscles, ligaments and nerves. In addition, there are intervertebral discs that make the separation between the vertebrae.

The spine is studied anatomically by differentiating the different areas (from top to bottom):

• Cervical region
• Thoracic region
• Lumbar region
• Sacrum
• Coccyx

The area in which the lumbago affects is the lumbar region, which comprises of five vertebrae. As the lumbar region is the lowest in the spine before reaching the sacrum (which is attached to the pelvis), when we walk, run or jump it is the area that receives the most impacts.

In low back pain the pain appears in part caused by a problem in the intervertebral discs that separate these five vertebrae, as they absorb impacts to prevent the vertebrae from colliding one against the other. other

These structures are composed of a fibrous ring with a gelatinous center, which allows the spine to move, flex, twist and absorb impacts.

Unfortunately sometimes these tissues are put under too much stress and that's when problems come.

• You may want to read: "Glute exercises: 6 simple techniques to practice at home"

Causes

There are different causes and risk factors that can trigger low back pain. It is just as possible that it appears after a sudden movement, such as lifting a great weight or an excessive bending of the trunk, as from a process of wear and tear typical of age.

Degenerative causes

Generally up to the age of 30 it is difficult for someone to have low back pain due to degenerative causes, but from that age it is much more common. Fortunately, in most cases the mildness of the affectation does not prevent having an active life. It is possible to practice sports despite certain degenerative changes.

With time and aging, the vertebrae can lose their position and lose water content, which reduces their size and can compress the nerves.

• Other users have read: "How to know if you are a hypochondriac: 9 symptoms of this disorder"

Overreactivity

Overactivity is the main reason for low back pain to appearsince the pressure on the structures of the spine can accelerate normative degeneration. There are activities and sports that accelerate this wear.

On the other hand, if we begin to give activity to that area at a certain age without the structures being used to it, pain can also appear. In general, in this case it disappears after a few days.

Muscle and ligament injuries generally have a better prognosis than when there is damage to the intervertebral discs. These injuries last longer because the annulus fibrosus of the disc suffers small tears or breaks.

Other causes

Another reason for low back pain is because the spinal canal narrows for some reason, usually abnormal bone growth or thickening of the ligaments.

There are several other possible causes that can cause low back pain, they are scoliosis or diseases such as vascular type or cancer. A medical evaluation is always advisable in the event that there is pain in the lower back..

• It might interest you: "9 great health benefits of quitting tobacco smoking"

Symptoms

In some cases these injuries do not cause any pain, but the common is that they do. Although they can last for months, in most cases of low back pain the pain disappears spontaneously after a few days or weeks. In any case, as we have mentioned, there are different degrees of severity and duration when it comes to low back pain.

Depending on the case, the person may have pain that appears gradually or suddenly, and can be constant or appear intermittently. Sometimes the pain manifests as if you were stuck with a needle, while other times it looks like a cramp. Generally, this depends on the cause of the ailment.

The manifestation of pain may be greater in some days than others, and sometimes the pain goes beyond the lower back and spreads lower, to the buttock or thigh. In these cases it is a herniated disc with sciatic pain. Herniated discs are a bit more serious pain and you should go to a specialist to evaluate the best treatment.

When the person needs a rest, usually lying in a horizontal position gives great relief. The lumbar region in this position can rest. On the other hand, if the person sits down, they do not rest as much and it may hurt. Also bending the trunk, walking, standing or lifting weights can feel pain.

• It might interest you: "How to love yourself? 6 tips for self-love".

Treatment

Depending on the type of lumbago you have, the solution must be one or the other. Next we will see that the treatment of low back pain can be medical, surgical or go through physiotherapy.

Prevention

It is not always possible to prevent low back pain, however other times it is possible. Sometimes we know that we can suffer from that area of ​​the spine, and then it is pertinent to avoid activities that cause pressure on the lumbar region.

To prevent new episodes it is appropriate to do swimming or jogging and especially exercises to strengthen the muscle building of the lower back.

On the other hand, we must have good postural hygiene. When we have to lift a weight we must bend the legs instead of the back. It should stay straight.

• To reorient our life: "Change your life: 20 decisive tips to start from scratch"

Medicines

When the pain can with us sometimes we have to take medication to calm the area. Medications do not have the ability to cure this condition, only to relieve pain.

Therefore, taking anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids can go very well on time, but we must find a solution through other treatments. In some cases, corticosteroids can infiltrate directly into the painful area, but usually it only serves as a patch for a time.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is a discipline that can help us a lot. His techniques include the use of heat or cold, massage, ultrasound and electrostimulation.

Physiotherapists, in addition to treating the cause of acute pain, are rehabilitation professionals. After doing their therapies, they also usually propose some exercises to regain mobility and strengthen the lumbar muscles.

• You might want to read: "The 7 most common yoga poses and what they are for"

Surgery

Surgery is obviously the most aggressive treatment, and is indicated in cases where the other options could not be successful.. Except for very special cases, surgery is never performed before 6 months or a year have passed after the onset of symptoms.

It is important to keep in mind that surgery is only an option to consider when the professional knows with certainty what is the cause of low back pain.