Lumbar Back Pain - Work the Way You Want With Lower Back Pain

Lumbar Back Pain Problem

Suffering from lumbar back pain can be an enfeebling condition. But for those who have never experienced such conditions, are in the minority. There are different causes which may lead to lower back pain. There can be several reasons for the onset of the pain; even daily activities like walking and sweeping can also develop such a condition. Are you facing such issues?

If yes, then there is a possibility that you have back problems. Don’t panic if you are feeling a terrible pain in your lower back. This is something which can be controlled by following some simple preventive measures. You can live a normal life with comfort. Read through the article to learn more about lumbar back problems, its causes, symptoms, and treatments and bring your life back on track.

What is the Lumbar or Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain suffers in the lumbar region of the spine. This area supports a lot of weighing and is accountable for the flexibility it is greatly sensitive to damages. Generally, the back of the body is quite strong, but when it suffers from damages, it develops unbearable pain. Such pain can last for a long time.

The lumbar spine is a well-engineered structure which consists of bones, joints, nerves, and muscles. They work together and provide great strength, support, and flexibility to do work. However, this complex structure leaves the lower back susceptible to damage and pain. The lower back supports the weight of your upper body.

It is a section which provides mobility for your everyday motions such as bending, twisting and walking. The lower back muscles help in flexing and rotating the hips during walking and support the spine. Most lower back pains develop due to the muscles, ligaments, joints, or discs. Your body reacts to injury by mobilizing an inflammatory healing response. It may sound like a minor condition but can cause terrible pain.

While a person may feel extreme amounts of pain, another with the same injury may not have any discomfort at all. The reason behind this is the root cause of the lumbar spine pain may not cause the injury. Sometimes, it is possible to treat such painful condition with exercises meant for back pain.

Causes of Lumbar Back Pain

Pain can be surrounded by the most gloomy and depressing issues for patients and the doctors. Understanding the lumbar back pain causes is the first and the most important step to receive proper treatment and will help individuals in their recovery. Here are some major causes of lower back pain:

Muscle strain in lumbar

One of the leading causes of lower back pain is muscle strains. Patients may or may not forget the first incident that triggered the muscle spasms. However, most of the symptoms of lower back pain which comes from muscle strain may be resolved within a few weeks.

Separated compact disk

Another major cause of lower back pain can be a slipped disc condition. The way of treating back pain is herniated and depends on the specific personal and relationship.

Discogenic back pain

The discogenic back is treated to be a common cause of middle and lower back pain. The Cis discogenic back pain generally caused by damage to intervertebral DVD. Such a condition can be treated by using a discogram.

Vertebrae Stenosis

With age, the growth of spinal canal goes down. If the spinal canal becomes limited, it can cause pain in the back  in the lumbar area.

Back spine rheumatoid arthritis

As you know, the arthritis condition generally affects the bones and joints such as the knee, hip, back, spinal and more.  Different joint diseases of the spine can lead to back pain with movement.

Osteoporosis

Weak bones can develop orthopaedic problems in the body, making you uncomfortable to carry out your daily activities. Lumbar back pain from weak bones is commonly related to a compression fracture of a vertebra. Weak bones tend to crack easily.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis causes pain is adjacent vertebrae. The most common cause of spondylolisthesis is because of degenerative causes reduction of the normal structure of the bone of the support plates.

Sacroiliac joint problems

The sacroiliac joint can lead to lower back pain. The sacroiliac joint is connected with the bottom of the lumbar spine and the top of the tailbone. If there is any kind of dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint, you may feel a terrible pain in the lower back area causing lumbar back problems.[1]

Symptoms of Lumbar Back Pain

Lower back pain or lumbar back pain can connect with different types of symptoms. The pain can be moderate and quite annoying, or it can be more severe and unbearable. Pain in lumbar may start suddenly or slowly and gradually get worse with time, if not treated the condition as soon as possible. Depending on the various causes mentioned above, symptoms can vary with person to person. Some major symptoms are:

• Dull and achy pain contained to the lower back are.
• Stinging pain which spreads from the low back to the backs of the thighs, sometimes the pain can move to the lower legs or feet; can include sciatica.
• A feeling of muscle tightness in the low back area, pelvis, and hips.
• Pain which gets worsens after sitting or standing for a long time.
• Facing issues while standing up straight, walking, or doing regular activities.

How to deal with lumbar back pain and return to work?

It has seen that physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to deal with lumbar spine pain. You can begin with physical therapy by doing 3 to 4 times a week and then decrease the frequency. At the initial stage, you can choose different home therapy programs. If you do not get the desired result from your standard therapy practices, then go for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. But before choosing one, you need to understand the lumbar back pain causes and choose accordingly.

Despite the lasting symptoms, early return to work can be the best way to deal with back pain. If there are proper work restrictions, the early return will not lead to any further injury.

Work restrictions instruction for light work activities

• Things that defines light work

• Primarily or ideal sitting for a long time

• Occasional standing and walking while doing work

• Lifting and carrying less than 20 pounds

• Work restrictions

• Don’t lift more than 5 pounds three times per hour

• Remember to change your position for 5 minutes every 30 minutes

• Avoid sitting, standing or walking for more than the ideal time

• Duration of light duty restrictions

• Mild lower back pain - 0 days

• Severe lumbar spine - 3 days in a week

• Low back pain with sciatica: 5 days a week [2] 

Work Restrictions for medium work activities

• Moderate work activity criteria

• Combination of sitting, standing and walking during the work

• Bending, twisting, or stooping occasionally in the work

• Lifting less than 50 pounds

• Work restrictions for medium work activity

• Don’t lift more than 5 pounds three times in an hour

• Change your position for 5 minutes in every 30 minutes

• Completely avoid ideal sitting, standing, walking, bending, twisting, and stooping

• Duration of light duty restrictions

• Mild lumbar back pain: 0 weeks

• Severe low back pain: 2 to 2.5 weeks

• Low back pain with sciatica: 3 weeks

Work restrictions for heavy work activities

• Heavy work activities criteria

• Primarily involves long time standing and walking

• Frequent stooping, bending and twisting while working

• Lifting nearly 100 pounds

• Work restrictions in such condition

• Never lift more than 25 pounds 15 times in an hour

• Take a ten-minute break after every hour of standing and walking

• Limit your driving: for light truck and car, 6 hours and heavy vehicle 4 hours per day is enough

• If possible, completely avoid bending, twisting, or another such similar movement

• Light duty restrictions duration

• Mild pain in the lower back- 1 to 1.5 weeks

• Severe pain in lumber – 4 to 5 weeks

• Lumbar back pain with sciatica- 4 to 5 weeks

To diagnosis the condition the doctor will perform a physical examination and study your complete medical history to know if you have some other types of diseases. The doctor may use diagnostic tests, for example, an X-ray, CT scan or an MRI to know in detail about your other back conditions that may be present with the same symptoms. The tests help the doctor to know the real cause of your lumbar back problems.

The treatment types for your lumbar spine pain depends on the cause of your back pain, your age, overall health, the severity of the condition and more.

References

1..https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=ut3381

2..https://fpnotebook.com/Ortho/Neuro/Sctc.htm