Don’t self medicate & ignore low back pain

A majority of the back pain cases fail to get attention until you bend down to pick something up or stretch your arms upward to catch a thing.  A study suggests that low back pain should be treated at an early stage because most of the cases of severe low back pain are a result of the slow progression of acute pain. 

Depending on the symptoms and severity of low back pain, it is divided into three types. The first is acute low back pain that lasts less than 6 weeks. The second is sub-chronic low back pain that troubles you for 6 -12 weeks and the third is a chronic one that extends beyond 12 weeks. 

Low back pain is caused by underlying problems of varying levels. It is believed to be the result of non-serious muscle or skeletal issues such as sprains or strains. It affects around 80 per cent of people worldwide. Initially, the pain develops after movements that involve lifting, twisting or forward- bending. 

The alarming symptoms of low back pain may start soon after the movements or appear when you wake up the following morning. Severity of the symptoms may fall anywhere on a scale of mild to extreme. But we happen to take it for granted for a very long period and within this period it escalates into a full-blown problem. 

Low back pain now-a-days affects a large part of the population. The condition can be best managed by having a clear understanding of why it occurs, how it occurs and when it occurs.  Why it occurs can have two reasons – specific and non-specific. Specific causes account for less than 20 per cent of the cases.   

A minority of cases result from physical causes such as trauma to the back caused by accident among young people or osteoporosis with fractures among older people and so on. Non-specific causes account for the much greater percentage of low back pain cases. How it occurs, depends on the specificity and non- specificity of the cause. Some of the manifestation of the condition include: Inability to stand straight; Pain down the legs;  Fever;  Numbness in lower parts of the body 

Anxiety, lack of exercise and proper sleep, sedentary jobs, smoking, obesity, strenous physical exercise and aging are some of the risk factors.  

It is caused by strained muscles and ligaments, osteoporosis, cancer of the spine, Osteoarthritis, degeneration of the discs and mattresses that don’t allow them to relax. 

Methods which can help you manage your low back pain are slow mobilisation and gentle stretching;  pain medications, pool therapy (exercising in water body) and  sitting in a reclining position relieves pressure on the lower back. 

Heat and cold packs relieve pain by reducing inflammation You should make no delay in visiting your doctor if symptoms don’t get easy on you. 

Persistent pain makes one cranky, causes anxiety and one may even lose working days. So, consult a pain specialist for relief from pain, do not self-medicate and suffer silently!