Lumbar pain, or lower back pain, is one of the most common causes of seeing your doctor. Because this is a problem so prevalent, as it affects millions of people around the globe, we wanted to provide some information. Sadly, some people try to avoid the problem of lower back pain. Some other people seek the wrong treatment. The main problem is that lumbar pain can be due to a serious condition, that should not be ignored. Therefore, knowing the cause and the appropriate treatment is extremely important.
Statistics of Lumbar Pain:
To show just how widespread this problem is, some interesting statistics have been provided below.
o Only in the USA, 31 million people suffer from lumbar pain on a frequent basis.
o Of people working in the US, about 50% have lower back pain one or more times a year.
o Most of the times, the cause of the pain is not a serious health condition, but the result of poor mechanics or a chronic trauma.
o Roughly $50 million are spent every year by americans, to treat lower back pain alone.
o Nearly 80% of the USA population will suffer lumbar pain at least once in their life.
o The leading cause of disability in people under 45 years old is lower back pain.
Causes of Lower Back Pain:
As we have said before, the pain caused by a lumbar problem can be something only mild or experienced only once, but in some cases, it could be potentially serious. Although pain can be linked to different parts of the spinal structure to include bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments, thanks to advancements in medicine this is a treatable condition.
- Minor Causes:
o Infections or stones in the kidneys.
o Slouching or other poor postures.
o Twisting, Bending or Lifting improperly.
o Stress, for whichever cause.
o Excess weight
- Serious Causes:
o Arthritis.
o Embolus
o Degenerative Disease.
o Diseases of an Abdominal Organ.
o Fracture
o Herniated Disc
o Injuries during Sports.
o Car Crash.
Preventing Lumbar Pain:
Evidently, there are some instances of lower back pain that would be out of a person's control but often, making wise decisions is all it takes to prevent pain from developing or in the case of existing back pain, from worsening. These are some of the things we can do to reduce the likelihood of developing back pain.
o Adopt a healthy lifestyle to include eating well-balanced meals, exercising daily, maintaining a healthy weight, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding illicit drugs.
o Stretch to warm up before any physical activity or workout and again at the end of the session.
o Adopt good postures, when walking, sitting, etc...
o Use a moderately firm mattress, to provide good support.
o Always lift using bended knees
o Use an ergonomic chair, which is especially beneficial for long periods of computer work
o Choose low heeled shoes with good insole cushioning
o When sitting or driving for long periods, take breaks.
Summary:
Minor lower back pain can be very disruptive to a person's life but when severe, the problem can be completely debilitating. Pain can affect the upper, middle, or lower back and due to the long list of possible causes, the most important thing to help a person get relief is to seek medical attention. Remember, this kind of back pain is typically associated with something minor that could be easily remedied but because this could also be a symptom of a serious underlying cause, it should never be ignored.
But, until the cause of the pain has been identified, it is difficult to say which treatment option is the more appropriate, therefore, it is very important to seek medical advice.
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