lumbago (Lower Back Pain)

Lumbago is lower back pain. Most people have experienced it at some time in their lives.
It is a rather generic term for undiagnosed pain in the lower back.
Axial pain is the most common type of Lumbago. Unlike other back conditions, this pain does not travel into other parts of the body such as legs and buttocks. However, Axial pain is not the only form of Lumbago.
It sometime gets worse with certain types of activity such as sport and sometimes it gets worse by sitting in the same position for long periods of time. Conversely, it usually improves with rest.
Lumbago can be mild or intense. It can be chronic, or it can occur briefly.
It can result from a strained muscle or from a degenerative disease such as Herniated disc, Sciatica, Spondylitis or Spinal Stenosis.

Symptoms

Pain from Lumbago can vary from a general ache or stiffness to sharp pain. It can be localised, or it can radiate into the buttocks, the groin or thighs. Muscle spasms can sometimes be experienced. Sometimes it can be hard to bend forward or to lean back.
If any of these symptoms are suffered for any great length of time, an osteopath or chiropractor should be consulted.

Treatments

As lumbago or lower back pain is predominantly caused by a sudden movement which causes muscles to stiffen or get damaged then treatment is a matter of manipulating the affected area and dealing with any pain and discomfort associated with the stress to your lower back.

Massage

Massaging the lower back area will usually ensure that you can straighten up and at least be able to move off to an area to sit or lie down, but it may take a bit of feeling around and working out the best area that loosens up the muscle or nerves affected.

Pain Relief

After that you are likely to need to take some standard painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to deaden the pain or soreness which follows and it is as well to keep taking the recommended dose for a day or so to keep the pain at bay. This will also allow you to move around as usual. A heat pad may also bring relief to the affected area and can be applied while you rest up and wait for the pain and tenderness to die down.

It will also be helpful to keep massaging the affected area of your back as and when you can over the next couple of days as this will ease the tension in the muscle and get it back to normal.

Lifestyle

Working out what is triggering your lumbago can help towards general treatment of it – if it occurs if you sit or stand for long periods of time, or when you do a certain task like lifting a heavy weight or something awkward then find ways of adjusting that activity. It can be as simple as making sure you get up and walk around every now and again if sitting is the cause or learning how to correctly lift items so you do not repeat the same mistake.

Exercise

Keeping active and having an exercise routine that works and strengthens your muscles is a long term way of avoiding lumbago and lower back pain as your muscles will be in a better condition to deal with sudden jerky movements that can set off the spasms. Bed rest is not to be recommended as this can actually make you stiffen up more.

Using the suggested treatments above will usually give you relief of your lumbago or lower back pain after a day or so and will generally not require any further treatment. In future you will know how to deal with it or avoid it totally.

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