Finding Lower Back Pain Relief

Nearly everyone will experience some form of back pain in his or her lifetime. The low back is the area behind the belly from the rib cage to the pelvis and is also called the lumbar region. Back pain is a major cause of missed work. Low back pain usually resolves on its own and is commonly the result of a strain injury. There are many treatments for low back pain.

At Risk for Lower Back Pain?

Low back pain can start in a person's early twenties and continue on throughout adulthood. Studies have shown that up to 80% of the general population are affected by low back pain (LBP) at some time during their lives. Learn to prevent lower back pain by knowing what activities could be putting you at risk.

Common Causes of Low Back Pain

• Manual materials handling (especially lifting)
• Twisting of the trunk
• Bending the trunk forward
• Bending the trunk to the side
• Excessive reaching
• Falls
• Prolonged sitting
• Sedentary jobs
• Highly physical jobs
• Exposure to whole-body vibration
• Cigarette smoking
• Obesity
• Extreme tallness

Low Back Pain Symptoms: Does Your Back Hurt?

Low back pain symptoms range from sharp and stabbing to a dull ache. The pains can be constant or intermittent and positional. Acute low back pain can appear suddenly after injury. Chronic back pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. Consult a doctor if you have prolonged back pain longer than 72 hours.

Low Back Pain and Serious Back Injuries

Severe back pain after an injury should be evaluated by a health-care professional. Warning signs of more serious injury include pain with coughing or urinating, loss of control of the bowels or bladder, new leg weakness, and fever. These additional symptoms require medical evaluation.

Is It Muscle Strain or Sciatica?

Back pain that occurs after excessive exercise or heavy lifting is frequently a strain injury. However, occasionally these activities cause disc injury and rupture or herniation. When a herniated disc irritates the sciatic nerve, it can cause back pain.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a form of nerve pain caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs down through the buttocks and extends down the back of the leg. Pressing on or pinching of the sciatic nerve causes shock-like or burning low back pain. Sometimes people feel as if the pain radiates down through the buttocks and down one leg, sometimes even reaching the foot.

Is Your Job Causing Back Pain?

A job that involves pulling, lifting, or twisting with the low back can cause injury and low back pain. Even prolonged sitting in an awkward position can cause low back pain. Standing on your feet for hours on end? That can cause lower back pain too. The best way to prevent back pain is to know if you are at risk.

Jobs That Can Cause Lower Back Pain

• Airline crew (pilots, baggage handlers)
• Surgeons
• Nurses & healthcare workers
• Bus and cab drivers
• Warehouse workers
• Construction workers
• Carpet installers and cleaners
• Farmers (agricultural, dairy)
• Firefighters and police
• Janitors
• Mechanics
• Office personnel (eg, telemarketers, file clerks, computer operators)

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