If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. About 80% of adults will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the most common cause of disability and the leading cause of absence from work. According to one study, more than a quarter of adults have experienced lower back pain in the last three months.
Acute pain and chronic pain
Most low back pain is acute, that is, short-term, and lasts from a few days to a few weeks. They tend to go away on their own with self-care without harming any of the body''s functions. Most acute low back pain is the result of a mechanical imbalance, which means that there is a defect in the composition of one of the components of the back (the spine, muscles, intervertebral discs, and nerves) in a way that makes it inconsistent with each other. Low back pain is classified as acute when the pain lasts between 4 and 12 weeks.
Chronic back pain is pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, even after the injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute low back pain already have chronic low back pain with symptoms that may last for a year. In some cases, treatment can successfully relieve chronic low back pain, but in other cases the pain persists despite medical and surgical treatment.
lower back components
The lower back where most back pain occurs involves the five lumbar vertebrae (referred to as L1-L5 on lumbar spine X-rays), which support much of the weight of the upper body. There are spaces between the vertebrae that are filled with a round rubbery substance called intervertebral discs (discs) that absorb shocks throughout the spine and protect the bones of the spine from shocks when moving. There is also a group of tissues known as ligaments that hold the vertebrae in place. In addition to the tendons that connect the muscles to the spine. There are 31 pairs of nerves rooted in the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain.
Causes of back pain
Causes resulting from daily activities
The five lumbar vertebrae
Standing incorrectly
Sitting for long periods
sleeping position
Improper lifting of heavy objects
sports injury
Making sudden movements without preparing the body
Pregnancy and fetal weight gain
Causes of diseases
A problem with the structure of the vertebrae
Congenital defects in the spine, such as curvatures or humps
cancer
Spinal inflammation
arthritis
Ovarian cysts
Disk diseases (disk) such as herniated disc
bone fractures
Osteoporosis
When should you go to the doctor
It may be difficult to determine the cause of the pain at first. Is it, for example, a result of your recent physical activity? But when back pain gets worse or is persistent, the pain may have a more serious cause. In most circumstances, it is not necessary to go to the doctor for back pain because the pain usually goes away with simple medications, compresses, and most importantly, rest. But you should see a doctor in the following cases:
If you have numbness or tingling in the lower extremities
If your pain is severe and does not improve with medication and rest
If you have pain after a fall or injury
trouble urinating
general weakness
prolonged pain
numbness in your legs
Fever
Losing weight without a specific diet
Imaging methods and diagnosis by radiological examinations
Radiology may be used to rule out specific diseases
With a medical history and physical examination, it can usually be determined whether there are serious causes that may be causing the pain. During the examination, the doctor will ask about the onset, location, and severity of the pain. duration of symptoms and any movement restrictions A history of previous seizures or health conditions that may be related to the pain. Along with a careful examination of the back, neurological tests are performed to determine the cause of the pain and appropriate treatment. Radiology and imaging tests are not necessary in most cases. However, under certain circumstances, imaging may be used to rule out specific causes, including tumors and spinal stenosis. Types of imaging and other tests include:
X-ray: This is often the first imaging technique used to look for a fracture or an injured vertebra. X-rays show the bony structures and any misalignments or fractures of the spine. Soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and discs cannot be seen on conventional X-rays. X-ray of the lumbar spine
CT scan: CT scans are used to see very clearly bone structures that cannot be seen accurately on traditional x-rays. Also, CT scans can be used to diagnose disc ruptures, spinal stenosis, or tumors. Using a computer, a CT scan s a 3-D image from a series of 2-D images. What is a CT scan?
Radiographic examinations are not necessary in most cases
MRI: Uses a magnetic force instead of radiation to an image that can be seen on a computer screen. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, which excel at showing bony structures, MRI produces clear images of soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Like a CT scan, an MRI may be ordered if a disease such as infection, tumor, inflammation, disc herniation or rupture, or pressure on a nerve is suspected. However, in most cases, unless there are "pointers" in the history or physical examination, an MRI is not necessary, at least during the early stages of low back pain. What is magnetic resonance
Bone scan-nuclear medicine: This scan is used to detect and monitor infections, fractures, or disorders in the bones. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the blood, and it will be concentrated in the bones, especially in areas that have some defects in the distribution of the radioactive material. Images obtained using nuclear medicine can be used to identify specific areas of abnormal bone metabolism or abnormal blood flow to bone. Nuclear medicine not only explains the shape of bones, but their function. Bone examination in nuclear medicine
Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves are used to obtain images of the inside of the body. The echoes of the sound wave are recorded and displayed as a visual image. Ultrasound imaging can show tears in ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue masses in the back.
