Disabling Lower Back Pain: What to Do?
Lower back pain is quite common among many individuals. It can range from being a simple nuisance which pops up from time to time, to a debilitating condition which is truly disabling. In this post, we’ll be going over the various causes of disabling back pain, pain management strategies, medical interventions available, and lifestyle adjustments one can make to live their healthiest, pain-free life yet. Enjoy!
Understand the Causes
The first step in managing lower back pain is understanding what might be causing it. Common causes may include:
- Poor posture: Poor posture is one of the leading causes of low back pain
- Physical strain: A physical strain from heavy lifting or sudden awkward movements is very likely to strain back muscles and spinal ligaments
- Aging: Changes in the spine such as herniated disks and osteoarthritis are more common as we age. Aging affects us all, yet as we begin to grow older, changes in the spine will often occur and this increases the potential for herniated discs and osteoarthritis to develop
- Inactive lifestyle: A weak core (abdominal muscles) due to inactivity can directly affect your lower back strength and possibly lead to low back pain
Pain Management Strategies
Here are some effective strategies: Managing your low back pain with the pain management strategies below can help you possibly reduce your lower back pain
Stay Active: Staying active can help you maintain the right level of flexibility and fitness one needs to rescue lower back pain. You’ll always want to consult with your healthcare practitioner first before engaging in any exercise routines.
Mind Your Posture: Posture is so important, and when you work towards having better posture, you may find your lower back pain begins to improve slightly to moderately. Be sure to use an ergonomic chair when you’re sitting and try to keep your back straight and your shoulders tucked back slightly.
Heat & Cold Therapy: Heating pads and cold compresses can help to reduce inflammation and pain within the area. Be sure to do the heating pad for no more than twenty minutes at a time, and also be sure to do the cold therapy for no more than twenty minutes at a time as well.
Physical Therapy: A physical therapist is able to help identify problem areas and can tailor physical therapy exercises to your specific needs when it comes to strengthening the muscles and reducing pain and discomfort.
Medical Interventions
If conservative treatments aren’t enough for your lower back pain, medical interventions may be necessary:
- Medication: A simple over-the-counter medication may be just the right amount of pain relief one needs to help alleviate low back pain symptoms through inflammation reduction.
- Injections: For more moderate to severe pain with your lower back, you may want to consider a series of pain management injections.
- Surgery: In cases where pain is caused by structural issues in the spine, surgery might be considered as a last resort. If there’s truly a structural issue with your spine, specifically in the lower back region, it may require surgical intervention to improve. This is a last resort solution, but it may be right for you if your pain does not improve through other medical interventions.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Making simple changes in your daily life may make a significant difference in managing lower back pain:
- Regular breaks: It’s important take short breaks throughout the day to walk around if you sit for extended periods of time.
- Proper lifting techniques: You’ll always want to bend at the knees and avoid placing extra stress on your back with a proper lifting technique.
- Stress management: Stress management can possibly help to reduce your low back pain. Stress often manifests in the form of low back pain and can trigger low back pain flare ups if left unchecked.
Contact Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Help with Your Lower Back Pain
Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help with your lower back pain with our in-house team of physical therapists, pain management doctors, and surgeons who are here to help you overcome whatever you may be going through. Feel free to contact us using the form below and we’ll be sure to respond to your message as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.