When Should You See A Doctor
Initially, lower back pain may be mild and go away on its own. However, if the pain becomes severe or does not go away, you need to see a doctor.
At first, you can try treating back pain using home remedies or over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. If you dont address the symptoms, back pain can affect your normal daily activities. If you experience back pain for more than two weeks, it could be a sign that you need to see a doctor.
Signs that you need to see a doctor include:
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Pain in the back after trauma
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When back pain is associated with fever
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Loss of control over your bladder and bowel
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Loss of strength and sensation in your arms and legs
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Night back pains
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Pains associated with certain medical conditions, e.g., osteoporosis
You may want to see your primary care doctor for diagnosis and treatment. They might refer you to a specialist if your diagnosis is unclear or further treatment is required.
What Are The Risk Factors For Developing Low Back Pain
Anyone can have back pain. Factors that can increase the risk for low back pain include:
Age: The first attack of low back pain typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, and back pain becomes more common with advancing age. Loss of bone strength from osteoporosis can lead to fractures, and at the same time, muscle elasticity and tone decrease. The intervertebral discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility with age, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. The risk of spinal stenosis also increases with age.
Fitness level: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine. Weekend warriorspeople who go out and exercise a lot after being inactive all weekare more likely to suffer painful back injuries than people who make moderate physical activity a daily habit. Studies show that low-impact aerobic exercise can help maintain the integrity of intervertebral discs.
Weight gain: Being overweight, obese, or quickly gaining significant amounts of weight can put stress on the back and lead to low back pain.
Genetics: Some causes of back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis , have a genetic component.
Smoking: It can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the discs, causing them to degenerate faster.
Backpack overload in children: A backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and supplies can strain the back and cause muscle fatigue.
Fasting And What It Does To Your Body
Fasting is not eating food or particular types of food for a while. It is an easy way to get rid of the excess pounds for some. At the same time, it can be a way of life or religious customs for others. And this initiates the concept of lower back pain when fasting Ramadan among the Muslim people worldwide.
However, let me assure you that after fasting lower back pain is not true. There are numerous benefits you can get from fasting. And surprisingly, sometimes fasting helps lower back pain.
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Ways To Relieve Back Pain Naturally
There are a wide variety of natural remedies to soothe your back, which can help reduce the intake of medications or provide an added benefit to your existing medical treatment.
Take a look at these natural pain-relieving strategies and find out what works best for you:
Read on to learn more about effective pain-relieving strategies for chronic back pain from natural methods.
What Is The Difference Between Ergonomic And Lumbar Support
A lumbar pillow supports the lower back. Many people place these pillows between their lower back and the mattress.
5 sourcescollapsed
- Grondin, D. E., et al. . The effect of a lumbar support pillow on lumbar posture and comfort during a prolonged seated task.
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Back Pain Prevention Going Forward
Looking after your back and your spine is essential â you only get one! So how can you go about preventing back pain and injury?
All in all, itâs super important to practice good health. If you have any questions about back pain or muscle pain, always seek help from a professional to ensure youâre doing right by yourself!
% Of People Will Experience Back Pain At Some Time But There Are Ways To Find Relief
As people enter middle age, they are more likely to experience bouts of low back pain. In fact, according to the Harvard Special Health Report Men’s Health: Fifty and Forward, back pain affects about four in five Americans at some point in their lives and equally strikes men and women.
Age is often the culprit. Over time, the bones and joints in your lower back begin to change. Your discs tend to wear out and sometimes become fragmented. These structural alterations sometimes cause pain.
Another cause of low back pain, although it occurs less often, is a herniated disc. Sometimes, a disc pushes outside the space between the bones and compresses a nerve at the point where it branches off the spinal cord. When the sciatic nerve that leads into the buttocks and leg is affected, the pain is called sciatica.
Yet, most cases of low back pain stem from strain or sprain due to simple overuse, unaccustomed activity, excessive lifting, or an accident. In most cases the best move is to wait and see if the pain resolves on its own. If the pain does not improve after three to four days, then it’s time to see a doctor.
However, depending on the source of your back pain and its severity, you might try a few home remedies for low back pain to help ease the pain until your back returns to normal. Here are several options to consider:
Complementary therapies. Several types of complementary therapy may be helpful for relief from low back pain. These include:
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When To Speak With A Doctor
It is best to speak with a doctor if back pain worsens. Keeping a diary to monitor the severity of the pain and how it impacts a personâs daily activities may assist the diagnosis.
People should also seek medical advice if they experience any of the below symptoms, which may indicate an alternative or additional underlying problem:
- a persistent curve in the lower back, even when bending forward
- tingling or numbness in the back, arms, or legs
Treating Chronic Back Pain
There are two main types of back pain treatments short-term and long-term. Short-term treatments are like a temporary patch, theyll help you manage your pain for a set period of time, but the pain will eventually return. The goal of long-term back pain treatments is to provide lasting relief. Both types of treatments have their purpose.
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Heat Therapy And Cold Therapy To Help Back Pain
Heat therapy and cold therapy are two sides of the same coin. Heat therapy uses warm water or heating pads to relieve muscle pain, while cold therapy uses ice or cold water. In certain situations, using heat therapy and cold therapy can help relieve pain and promote healing.
For new or acute pain like pain caused by a fall or other pain that shouldnt last beyond six weeks cold therapy can be a great way to reduce swelling, decrease inflammation and numb pain.
For chronic pain pain thats expected to last or has lasted for more than six weeks heat is usually the temperature of choice for soothing pain and stimulating the healing process.
You might benefit from both hot and cold therapy. For instance, after exercise, immediate cold therapy can reduce muscle soreness. After 24 hours, switching to heat therapy can help your muscles heal faster.
Home Remedies For Lower Back Pain
Do you suffer from lower back pain? Regardless of how often and how much it hurts, youre in the company of millions of others affected by an aching lower back.
The lower back is called the lumbar region or lumbar spine. At some time or another, four out of five adults report they have had lumbar pain. At any given time, about 25% report that theyve had pain within the previous three months. Thats a LOT of pain in the population!
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Quadruped Arm And Leg Raise
- Kneel on the floor, lean forward, and place your hands palm down.
- Keep the knees in line with the hips and the hands directly below the shoulders.
- Without moving the spine, simultaneously lift one arm and extend the opposite leg so that they are in line with the spine.
- Return to the starting position.
Remedies To Relieve Lower Back Pain Fast
by North Texas Medical Center | Jan 28, 2020 | Physical Therapy
We all want to know the best way to relieve lower back pain fast. At best, backache can be frustrating, perhaps draining. At its worst, this kind of discomfort can be utterly debilitating. If you have ever awakened with a terrible backache, you may have also learned how quickly such an ailment can derail your day, your week, or even several months or years.
Fortunately, there are remedies to combat that ache. From exercising to getting better sleep to reducing your stress levels, you can choose from a variety of strategies. The next time you have a backache , consider the following methods of back pain relief. Remember to discuss at-home back pain remedies with your doctor before you make use of them.
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What Research Is Being Done
The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to seek fundamental knowledge of the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health , the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world.
As a primary supporter of research on pain and pain mechanisms, NINDS is a member of the NIH Pain Consortium, which was established to promote collaboration among the many NIH Institutes and Centers with research programs and activities addressing pain. On an even broader scale, NIH participates in the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee, a federal advisory committee that coordinates research across other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies as well as the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Exercises That Can Relieve Lower Back Pain In Just 10 Minutes
Lower back pain is a common pest that promises to suck the joy right out of just about anything.
But dont worry, you are not alone! Lower back pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaint worldwide, and it is estimated that up to 85% of all adults will experience low back pain at some stage during their lifetime.
Majority of lower back pain will be non-specific, meaning that there is pain in the absence of a specific underlying condition that can be reliably identified.
There are only a tiny percentage of adults with lower back pain due to a serious underlying condition.
There is strong evidence to suggest that bed rest is not helpful, and can actually worsen your outcomes long-term!
The key to a fast recovery and prevention of relapse is remaining as active as possible and to progressively increase your activity levels.
The good news is that the prognosis for acute lower back pain is excellent. Up to 90% of cases will improve within days to weeks with the right self care.
Below are 5 simple exercises you can try right now for lower back pain relief.
Your symptoms should not intensify as a result of doing the exercise. You should feel a slight stretch/ uncomfortable feeling. However, do not move into pain!
Without forcing the movement, perform each exercise slowly 2-3 times a day for best results. Be sure to breathe throughout the exercises!
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Improve Your Posture To Reduce Back Pain
Most of us spend a good part of our day sitting down, which may be more harmful than you realize. You can minimize the impact by maintaining good posture. Correct posture in a chair means having all the bones in your spine lined up neatly, like a stack of perfectly aligned blocks. You should keep your feet flat on the floor and your computer keyboard within easy reach so youre not leaning forward or slumping. This is part of proper office ergonomics.
Many apps and devices exist that can help you enhance your posture. If you work at a computer all day, try the software and app Posture Man Pat. This free app interacts with the webcam on your screen, tracking where your face is relative to your screen. If your posture starts to droop and curve, the app will alert you.
If you are looking to get really tech-savvy, try the Lumo Lift Posture Coach. This wearable device has a sensor that will vibrate when you change your posture from what the posture coach is calibrated to.
The Ultimate Deskercise Stretch Routine »
Ways To Manage Low Back Pain At Home
Back pain is one of the most common physical ailments. Studies show that eight in 10 Americans have back pain at some point in their lives, usually in the lower back.
Your might have sprained it while working in the yard or cleaning house. Or your back might hurt from an old sports injury or a chronic condition such as arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
Sudden or severe back pain should be checked by a doctor or a physical therapist. That also goes for pain that wonât go away.
But sometimes you can treat nagging pain and discomfort on your own.
Wilson Ray, MD, chief of spine surgery for the Department of Neurological Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says home remedies â tend to be better when they’re combined than alone.â
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Treating Back Pain At Home
Aside from such severe injuries or arthritis, most lumbar pain is short term and may respond well to home care, especially if its a recent occurrence and you suspect you know how you may have caused it. If the level of pain is mild, here are five things you can try at homebut if pain lingers or gets worse, discontinue your efforts and consult your doctor:
Lower Back Pain Exercises
- Go for walks or take the stairs instead of elevators or escalators whenever possible.
- Try slow and controlled sitting activities such as yoga, exercise ball sitting, and leg lifts while reading or watching TV.
- Try strengthening exercises such as bridges and squats. They can help reinforce the core muscles to give you a stable foundation for your back.
- Consider taking up upper body activities like swimming, tennis, or racquetball if it feels comfortable because these can also strengthen your back as well.
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Stretching Exercising And Eating Right
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