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How To Get Rid Of Sharp Pain In Lower Back

Lower Back Pain Causes

Sharp Pain Sciatica Relief: How to get rid of Discomfort and Crack Lower Back

Nonspecific low back pain means that the pain is not due to any specific or underlying disease that can be found. It is thought that in some cases the cause may be an over-stretch of a ligament or muscle. In other cases the cause may be a minor problem with a disc between two spinal bones , or a minor problem with a small facet joint between two vertebrae. There may be other minor problems in the structures and tissues of the lower back that result in pain. However, these causes of the pain are impossible to prove by tests. Therefore, it is usually impossible for a doctor to say exactly where the pain is coming from, or exactly what is causing the pain.

To some people, not knowing the exact cause of the pain is unsettling. However, looked at another way, many people find it reassuring to know that the diagnosis is nonspecific back pain which means there is no serious problem or disease of the back or spine.

Signs Your Back Pain Might Be An Emergency

In our 20s and 30s, normal back pain often can be attributed to factors of daily life, such as sitting too long, picking up children, or overdoing it while exercising.

In our 40s and older, work injuries and the beginnings of arthritis and degenerative conditions are more common.

Back pain is so common, in fact, that many patients shrug off symptoms that might indicate a medical emergency.

Approximately 80% of adults will experience back pain in their lives, so its important to be able to identify the severity of your symptoms and track how long the pain lasts.

If back pain can be associated with a specific activity, such as lifting or twisting wrong, and the pain goes away within 72 hours after resting and applying ice, its usually nothing to worry about. However, if pain creeps on gradually, appears suddenly, or doesn’t go away, you might have a more serious condition.

How Is Low Back Pain Diagnosed

A complete medical history and physical exam can usually identify any serious conditions that may be causing the pain. Neurologic tests can help determine the cause of pain and appropriate treatment. Imaging tests are not needed in most cases but may be ordered to rule out specific causes of pain, including tumors and spinal stenosis. Occasionally the cause of chronic lower back pain is difficult to determine even after a thorough examination.

Tests include:

Blood tests are not routinely used to diagnose the cause of back pain but might be ordered to look for signs of inflammation, infection, cancer, and/or arthritis.

Bone scans can detect and monitor an infection, fracture, or bone disorder. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream and collects in the bones, particularly in areas with some abnormality. Scanner-generated images can identify specific areas of irregular bone metabolism or abnormal blood flow, as well as to measure levels of joint disease.

Discography involves injecting a contrast dye into a spinal disc thought to be causing low back pain. The fluids pressure in the disc will reproduce the persons symptoms if the disc is the cause. The dye helps to show the damaged areas on CT scans taken following the injection.

Electrodiagnostics can identify problems related to the nerves in the back and legs. The procedures include:

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Getting Rid Of Back Pain

The National Institute for Fitness and Sport has an excellent program for getting rid of low back pain due to APT. It includes:

  • Lengthen the short hip flexors with stretches.
  • Retrain the glutes and hamstrings to fire more efficiently.
  • Strengthen the abs to help pull the pelvis into place.

Finding an exercise that strengthens your core and teaches you to use those muscles properly can be really helpful for many people to get rid of their low back pain. Some of these exercises are called corrective exercises, and one that has become popular recently is crawling. Breaking Muscle gives an explanation of how crawling can benefit anyone and how to do it.

Everyone finds different solutions to the back pain problem. Its important to safely try out different solutions until you find the one that works for you. Here are some of our top suggestions for those suffering from lower back pain:

Acute Back Pain Due To Inflammation Of Internal Organs

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Pain in your lower back may occur due to the inflammation or irritation of an internal organ or may be a sign of infection. Organs of the mid-back, abdominal, or pelvic regions can cause pain specifically in the right or left side of your lower back or be generalized throughout the area.

Common examples of lower back pain stemming from internal organs include:

  • Kidney stones. Acute lower back pain may be felt when a kidney stone moves inside the kidney or the ureter, a thin tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. The pain is typically localized to the left or right side depending on the kidney thatâs affected.
  • Kidney infection. Kidney infections usually start as urinary tract infections , causing inflammation and pain on the left or right lower back area, depending on the kidney affected.
  • Ulcerative colitis. Persistent inflammation of the large intestine can cause abdominal cramping and sharp back pain on one or both sides of the lower back and abdomen.
  • Pancreatitis. A lower left back pain may be due to inflammation of the pancreas, which also causes upper abdominal pain at the same time.
  • Appendicitis. An inflamed appendix can cause a sharp pain in the lower right abdomen and back.

Women may develop lower back pain from specific conditions, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis, and pregnancy.

View Slideshow: 7 Ways Internal Organs Can Cause Lower Back Pain

See Back Care for Lower Back Pain

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Rule Out And Prevent Injury

Muscle soreness in your back after a workout may be normal, especially if you were targeting your back muscles or trying a new activity that engages your core. Prevent strains and overuse injuries that may cause pain by doing a warm-up and cool-down before and after each workout and always using proper form.

Be sure to increase the intensity of your workout slowly over time. Lifting too much weight or pushing beyond your ability may cause injury. Be sure to use proper equipment and ensure a safe environment. For example, if you are running, wear well-fitting running shoes in good condition and avoid concrete and rugged, uneven surfaces, advises MedlinePlus.

However, if you regularly experience back pain after a workout in the upper or lower back, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. If you experience lower or mid-back pain after a workout, some other possible causes include muscle strains, herniated discs, intervertebral disc degeneration, sciatica or spinal stenosis, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Warning

If back pain comes on suddenly, does not improve or includes sharp pains, this may be a sign of a more serious condition or injury. Stop exercising and consult your doctor.

Is Your Job Creating Back Distress

A job that includes illustration, training, or twisting with the low back can create injury in addition to low neck and back pain. Also prolonged being in an awkward setup can develop low back pain.

Basing on your feet for humans resources at a time? That can cause lower back ache also. The very best methods to quit pain in the back is to identify if you go to threat.

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Is It Time For Back Surgery

Back surgery is often a last resort when all other treatment options have been tried. Surgery may be considered an option to relieve pain caused by serious musculoskeletal injuries or nerve compression resulting from vertebrae shifting or collapsing.

Back surgeries often have a long recovery period, and some patients may lose mobility and flexibility post-surgery. It is also important to note that not all surgical procedures are successful. As such, it is important for patients to talk with their physicians and know all of the risks associated with a procedure before undergoing back surgery.

Relieving Your Back Pain

How To Get Rid Of Lower Back Pain!!

When you are suffering from an ache or struggling to get lower back pain relief, it may seem difficult to take a proactive approach to the matter. However, alleviating such aches may be largely within your control. If you make some simple changes in habit and lifestyle, you might be pleasantly surprised by the results. At North Texas Medical Center, we take great pride in helping our community achieve better health. If you are suffering from backache, call us at , or contact us online today.

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Get Help From A Professional:

Massage – Getting pain treatment through massage is another great way to get rid of pain. While this may be a luxury approach, a monthly massage can be affordable and effective. There are many types of massage options, so be sure to ask about targeting your areas of pain. With the rising accessibility of massage guns, you can also get a frequent and affordable targeted massage. You can get a very high-quality massage gun for a few hundred dollars.

Go to a Chiropractor – Finding a good chiropractor can be the key to relieving your pain. Chiropractors are trained in musculoskeletal manipulation and can identify the cause of your pain and specifically treat areas of pain with specialized procedures. They can also advise you on managing your pain in your day-to-day life and suggest other activities that may help.

Physical Therapy – Often treating patients that have suffered trauma or recovering from surgery, physical therapists and their staff are also more than qualified to help treat back pain. Overlapping with treatment from a chiropractor, seeking help from a physical therapist can be another highly effective option for treating back and neck pain caused by sitting.

How Your Back Works

The spine, which is also called the backbone or spinal column, is one of the strongest parts of the body and gives us a great deal of flexibility and strength.

Its made up of 24 bones, known as vertebrae, one sitting on top of the other. These bones have discs in between and lots of strong ligaments and muscles around them for support. There are also the bones in the tailbone at the bottom of the back, which are fused together and have no discs in between.

On either side of the spine, running from top to bottom, are many small joints called the facet joints.

The spinal cord passes inside the vertebrae, which protect it.

The spinal cord connects to the brain through the base of the skull and to the rest of the body by nerves that pass through spaces between the bones of the spine. These nerves are also known as nerve roots.

As you grow older, the structures of your spine, such as the joints, discs and ligaments, age as well. The structures remain strong but its usual for your back to get stiffer as you get older.

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When Is The Right Time To Seek Professional Advice

  • continues after a few weeks
  • worsens or if you have sudden severe pain
  • interferes with your quality of life and stops you doing daily activities
  • occurs with other concerning symptoms such as incontinence, numbness or weakness in the legs, fever, nausea or vomiting.
  • Most cases of lower back pain on the right side are not medical emergencies. However, if you have symptoms of appendicitis, kidney infection, kidney stones or testicular torsion you should see a doctor immediately

Sleeping And Lying Down

Pin on How To Get Rid Of Your Back Pain
  • Select a firm mattress and box spring set that does not sag. If necessary, place a board under your mattress. You can also place the mattress on the floor temporarily if necessary.
  • If youâve always slept on a soft surface, it may be more painful to change to a hard surface. Try to do what is most comfortable for you.
  • Use a back support at night to make you more comfortable. A rolled sheet or towel tied around your waist may be helpful.
  • Use a firm pillow that supports the curve of your neck.
  • Do not sleep on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest.
  • When standing up from the lying position, turn on your side, draw up both knees and swing your legs on the side of the bed. Sit up by pushing yourself up with your hands. Avoid bending forward at your waist.

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Maintain Correct Posture During Activities

To protect your lower back from injury, its important to maintain proper posture when performing physical activitiesespecially if you play sports or have a job that requires repetitive motions. Avoid slouching as much as possible and aim to keep your spine erect. When lifting, bend and straighten from the knees, not the waist. And be sure to move your hips when twisting from side to side.

Preventing Low Back Pain

Steps to lower your risk of back pain as you age include exercising regularly , maintaining a healthy weight, lifting with the legs and not the low back, and optimizing your workstation.

After any period of prolonged inactivity, a regimen of low-impact exercises is recommended. Speed walking, swimming, or stationary bike riding 30 minutes daily can increase muscle strength and flexibility and protect your low back from injury or strain. Frequent stretching can help loosen muscle tension, strengthen your core muscles, and improve over-all posture for a healthier back.

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    Are You Making Your Back Pain Worse

    Don’t be guilty of exacerbating your already achy back. Try these tips for preventing added low back pain:

    • Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes if you are on your feet all day.
    • Don’t slouch when standing or sitting.
    • At home or work, make sure work surfaces are at a comfortable height.
    • Warm-up and stretch before exercise or other strenuous physical activity.
    • Don’t try to lift objects that are too heavy and don’t twist while lifting.
    • Live a healthy lifestyle, stop smoking, and keep off the extra weight.

    Rub On Medicated Creams

    Lower Back Pain Right & Left Side Psoas Exercises for Quick Relief of Mild, Sharp, or Severe Pain!

    Skin creams, salves, ointments, or patches may help when your back feels stiff, sore, and tense. Many of these products contain ingredients such as menthol, camphor, or lidocaine that can cool, heat, or numb the affected area.

    Put on creams right where you hurt. Ask someone to apply it if you have trouble reaching the spot.

    âIt’s not going to be a mainstay at providing significant relief, but it can calm things down,â Ray says.

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    Products That May Help:

    Get a Standing Desk -standing, even for short periods throughout the day, has been proven to help alleviate or prevent sitting-caused back pain. By standing at your desk you’ll burn extra calories and the variability offered by a sit-to-stand desk will benefit you in more ways than you might think. Our writer, Ryan put together a great guide on buying a standing desk. and is a really good value for money.

    Get an Ergonomic Chair – for most of us, sitting is just part of our daily lives and jobs. Even for those with the benefit of a standing desk, it’s still important to make sure that you have a quality chair for the considerable time you still spend sitting.Ergonomic focused chairsoffer lower back or lumbar support which is key in making your sitting time much less painful.

    Use an Inversion Table – the only way to get 100% decompression of your spine compared to when you stand is to invert at a 60-degree angle. There is some research supporting the use of inversion tables to get rid of back pain. And besides getting rid of back pain, there are many other benefits reported by users.

    Get a Foam Roller – we think foam rollers are a great, cheap option for targeted massage and tissue release. We are a big fan because they come in many shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels that will fit just about any budget. You should do your research though as there is an initial learning curve to overcome.

    Will Bed Rest Help Back Pain

    Doctors often recommend continuing your usual activities of daily living as soon as possible. Studies suggest that strict bedrest can often prolong or worsen low back pain. Bed rest can also lead to secondary complications such as depression, decreased muscle tone, and blood clots in the legs. You should try and keep moving while avoiding activities that noticeably aggravate or worsen back pain. By staying active, those who suffer from low back pain can gain greater flexibility and quicker recovery.

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    What Should I Know About Back Pain

    Back pain is a very common problem and will affect many of us at some point during our lives.

    The good news is that in most cases it isnt a serious problem, and it might just be caused by a simple strain to a muscle or ligament.

    As far as possible, its best to continue with your normal everyday activities as soon as you can and to keep moving.

    Being active and exercising wont make your back pain worse, even if you have a bit of pain and discomfort at first. Staying active will help you get better. Taking painkillers can help you do this.

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