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Back Pain:

Lower Back Pain – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Visualise this: Waking up every morning with a dull aching pain in your lower back region.

Initially you turn that down as a minor inconvenience. However, as days pass by, the soreness escalates and affects your day-to-day activities.

This is a story which can be heard from every third person we meet or just probably you, narrating this to everyone.

So when it comes to lower back pain, don’t worry– I have got your back (not literally) but mine hurts too. Let us understand the causes, relief factors, can it cause chronic diseases — like questions together.

What are the common causes of lower back pain?

Lower back pain is one of the most common problems faced by millions of people across the globe. It is caused by —

Muscle or ligament sprain: It is caused due to prompt lifting of heavy objects or compromising movements or let’s just say that you bend your back too much just to give a pen to your colleague sitting diagonally to you or you are a dentist.

Slipped disc: The disc between the vertebrae acts as a cushion. However, with age it does rupture thereby pressing the surrounding nerves causing pain.

Osteoporosis: In this condition, the bones become brittle and lose their density which causes bones as well as spinal cord fractures.

Arthritis: There is narrowing of spaces of the spinal canal which can lead to back pain and difficulty in walking.

Poor posture: Improper standing, or gait (the way one walks) or prolonged sitting can affect the back muscles.

How do I know If my Back Pain is Serious?

Medicines are not always a solution! In fact, researchers suggest that Lower back pain is a self- limiting condition and can be resolved within one or two months in most of the patients. Thereby, managing lower back pain does not always need a medicated dose to cure it. There are several holistic and natural remedies that can help cure at a steady rate. They are—

Gentle exercises: Low key activities like swimming or walking can aid in stabilising pain and bettering flexibility.

Yoga: Yoga can improve flexibility and help minimizing pain by decreasing the muscle tension in the back region.

Heat and cold therapies: Heat therapy and Cold therapy are non-pharmacological (non-medicinal) approaches. Heat therapy includes application of heat source or pad. And cold therapy involves application of cold packs or ice on the most affected area.

Mindfulness techniques: Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and other relaxation methods can help cope up with the pain. Avoid stressful conditions and manage the stress levels effectively.

Anti Inflammatory diet: Omega 3 fatty acids, turmeric, magnesium-rich foods and green leafy vegetables can help alleviate the pain naturally.

Traditional Therapies: Massage, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments can help relieve the pain to a great extent.

When should I see a doctor for lower back pain?

Most of the lower back pain episodes subsides with self-care and the methods as discussed. While, there are certain signs which might as well need medical attention.

Trauma or any prior diagnosed degenerative conditions should consult a doctor or healthcare professional immediately.

Pain which is persistent in nature may need medical help. The pain lasts longer than a few weeks or might worsen over a brief period of time.

Pain which is radiating in nature can spread to the proximities (legs, feet) can cause more worsening conditions. This is also known as sciatica pain.

Numbness or tingling sensation or unusual weakness in the proximity regions of the body. Functional disturbances like disrupt bladder or bowel movements.

Can lower back pain be a sign of kidney problems?

Sometimes, the lower back pain can be puzzled with kidney related problems. Let us understand how to differentiate that type of pain with lower back pain.

Renal (kidney) problems do showcase a deep, dull aching pain in the lower back region. However, it is accompanied by symptoms like fever, painful micturition (urination), or blood in the urine.

Some of the kidney problems which radiate lower back pain are kidney stones, kidney infections and many more.

What sleeping positions help reduce lower back pain?

Do you ever feel a backache or a swollen hand after you wake up from sleep? Well, sleeping positions can possibly affect the back pain.

Consider these positions for lowering the back pain:

Side sleeping with a pillow between the knees

Back sleeping with a pillow under the knees

No stomach sleeping

CONCLUSION

Identify the symptoms and causes of the back pain and customise the treatment approaches in accordance to it. You can hold onto the remedies to relieve pain and discomfort for lower back pain. However, seek medical help if the pain exaggerates.