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What is Low Back Pain?
Low back pain is a general name given to all symptoms that occur in and around the waist area and can manifest themselves in various ways. Low back pain is a common problem and can affect people of all ages. The resulting pain can be sharp, dull, burning or tingling and can range from mild to severe.
What are the Causes of Low Back Pain?
Low back pain can occur for many reasons. These may be a very simple disease or they may occur after a very important disease or event. Some of the most important conditions that can cause Low Back Pain include:
- Spinal Fractures and Injuries: Situations or injuries that cause any of the bones in the spine to break can cause low back pain. They can be caused by traumatic events such as traffic accidents, falls from height and severe impacts. They can also be caused by diseases that weaken bones, such as osteoporosis.
- Herniated disc: Herniated disc, which occurs as a result of rupture of the discs in the spine and compression of the nerves, can also cause low back pain. Factors such as heavy lifting, prolonged bending, obesity, stress and multiple births can increase the risk of a herniated disc.
- Stress Fractures: These are small cracks that occur in bones due to repetitive microtraumas and excessive strain. It is usually seen in young athletes and people who exercise excessively. It often occurs in the lower vertebrae in the lumbar region and can cause symptoms such as low back pain, tenderness and limitation of movement.
- Waist Slippage: It is the forward slippage of the upper vertebra compared to the lower vertebra. This slippage can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress fractures, arthritis, or ligament weakness. It can cause symptoms such as lower back pain, leg pain, numbness and tingling.
- Lumbar Stenosis: Lumbar stenosis is the narrowing of the canal through which the spinal cord passes in the lumbar region. This narrowing can lead to nerve problems such as pain, numbness and tingling in the waist and legs. Various factors can cause lumbar stenosis, such as decreased disc height, wear and tear on the intervertebral joints, spinal misalignment, or ligament thickening. Patients usually experience weakness, loss of sensation, numbness and tingling in their legs after walking a certain distance. These symptoms may go away when the patient bends or sits, but return when the patient starts walking again. Lumbar stenosis may also cause urinary and stool control problems in advanced cases.
- Infections: Although rare, spinal infections may also lie behind lower back pain. Spinal infections are serious infections that affect the vertebrae, discs, and nerves in the lower back. Risk factors such as smoking, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, diabetes, HIV and cancer increase the chances of developing spinal infections. These infections can be triggered by a variety of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. In addition to lower back pain, spinal infections can also cause fever, chills, fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling in the legs, and urinary and bowel control problems. If you experience symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue in addition to your back pain, and if you have risk factors, you should not ignore the possibility of spinal infection. In this case, it is important to see a doctor and have the necessary examinations.
- Facet Joint Arthrosis (calcification): These are the joints located at the back of the vertebrae and communicate with the upper and lower spine. It may develop due to various reasons and is common.
- Tumors: Tumors may arise from bone, soft tissue or nerves and can be benign or malignant. They may originate from the cells that form the spinal cord and spine, or spread through metastasis from other parts of the body, such as prostate or breast cancer. Tumors can cause lower back pain along with various pains depending on their location:
Some other common factors that can cause lower back pain also include:
- Soft tissue problems: Muscle spasms, ligament strains, and muscle tears can also cause low back pain.
- Stress and tension: Intense stress and tension can cause muscle spasm and lower back pain.
- Inadequate inactivity: Prolonged sitting or a sedentary lifestyle can cause waist muscles to weaken and cause pain.
- Obesity: Excess weight can put excessive strain on the waist area and cause lower back pain.
- Covid-19: Covid-19 is known to cause joint pain and back pain in some patients.
- Kidney stone
- Urinary tract infections
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
What is Good for Low Back Pain?
Many people think they need to rest when they have lower back pain. But research shows that it is more beneficial to stay as active as you can handle, even during acute pain. Being inactive can weaken your muscles and increase your pain.
If we come to the answer to the question of why we should move when we have back pain, we can answer as follows;
- Increases blood circulation: Movement increases blood flow to your waist area. This helps carry oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and tissues. This reduces inflammation and pain.
- Strengthens muscles: Regular exercise helps strengthen your waist muscles and abdominal muscles. These muscles support your spine and help prevent lower back pain.
- Increases flexibility: Stretching exercises increases the flexibility of your waist area and improves your mobility. This may help prevent and reduce lower back pain.
- Improves mood: Exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers that improve your mood and reduce stress.
Other things that are good for lower back pain include:
- Hot and Cold Applications: It may be useful to apply hot or cold depending on the situation. Cold application for up to 20 minutes is recommended, especially for sudden and sharp pain. Cold application reduces inflammation and relieves pain. Avoid placing ice directly on your skin, use a towel or cloth instead. Heat can be applied for 20 minutes to relax the muscles.
- Correct Posture: Be careful to stand upright while sitting and standing. This reduces the pressure on your lower back and relieves your pain. Maintaining good posture can also prevent future pain. Ergonomic posture and position are very effective, especially for desk workers.
- Appropriate Shoes: Wear comfortable shoes that support your feet and spine. This helps you maintain an upright posture and prevent lower back pain.
- Healthy Diet: A balanced and nutritious diet is important for your back pain as well as for your general health. If you are overweight, losing weight will reduce the load on your waist area.
- Good Sleep: It is recommended that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Getting enough rest will help your muscles recover and reduce your pain. It is also important that this sleep is done on a suitable bed.
Additionally:
- You can use painkillers recommended by your doctor.
- Doing physical therapy exercises can help strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility.
- Getting a massage can relax your muscles and relieve your pain.
- You can try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation to manage your stress.
All the measures mentioned above are good for mild back pain, but if your back pain is getting worse and there is no improvement even after a week, it is useful to see a specialist as soon as possible. There may be a significant underlying disease for lower back pain, and the cause can be diagnosed early by a specialist and treatment can be started as soon as possible. As MSM Clinic, we try to ensure that our patients live their daily lives actively and pain-free by using a holistic treatment method in the treatment of low back pain.
