The majority of LBP does not have a clear cause but is believed to be the result of non-serious muscle or skeletal issues such as sprains or strains. Low back pain is not a specific disease but rather a complaint that may be caused by a large number of underlying problems of varying levels of seriousness. Causes Ī herniated disc as seen on MRI, one possible cause of low back pain In addition, a majority of those with chronic low back pain show symptoms of depression or anxiety. Chronic low back pain is associated with sleep problems, including a greater amount of time needed to fall asleep, disturbances during sleep, a shorter duration of sleep, and less satisfaction with sleep. Other problems may occur along with low back pain. Recurrent episodes occur in more than half of people with the repeated episodes being generally more painful than the first. This is often a person's first reason to see a medical professional as an adult. The first experience of acute low back pain is typically between the ages of 20 and 40. Pain radiating down the legs (known as sciatica) may be present. It may or may not worsen with certain movements, such as raising a leg, or positions, such as sitting or standing. The description of the symptoms may range from tenderness at a particular point to diffuse pain. The symptoms may start soon after the movements or upon waking up the following morning. In the common presentation of acute low back pain, pain develops after movements that involve lifting, twisting, or forward-bending. Low back pain is more common among people aged between 40 and 80 years, with the overall number of individuals affected expected to increase as the population ages. Difficulty most often begins between 20 and 40 years of age. About 40% of people have LBP at some point in their lives, with estimates as high as 80% among people in the developed world. Īpproximately 9–12% of people (632 million) have LBP at any given point in time, and nearly 25% report having it at some point over any one-month period. The evidence for chiropractic care and spinal manipulation is mixed. Additionally, there are many alternative medicine therapies, including the Alexander technique and herbal remedies, but there is not enough evidence to recommend them confidently. Low back pain often affects mood, which may be improved by counseling or antidepressants. No clear benefit of surgery has been found for other cases of non-specific low back pain. Surgery may be beneficial for those with disc-related chronic pain and disability or spinal stenosis. Opioids may be useful if simple pain medications are not enough, but they are not generally recommended due to side effects. A number of other options are available for those who do not improve with usual treatment. Normal activity should be continued as much as the pain allows. NSAIDs are recommended if these are not sufficiently effective. Initial management with non-medication based treatments is recommended. In those with chronic pain, the pain processing system may malfunction, causing large amounts of pain in response to non-serious events. Some low back pain is caused by damaged intervertebral discs, and the straight leg raise test is useful to identify this cause. Despite this, the use of imaging in low back pain has increased. In most cases, imaging tools such as X-ray computed tomography are not useful and carry their own risks. If the pain does not go away with conservative treatment or if it is accompanied by "red flags" such as unexplained weight loss, fever, or significant problems with feeling or movement, further testing may be needed to look for a serious underlying problem. In most episodes of low back pain, a specific underlying cause is not identified or even looked for, with the pain believed to be due to mechanical problems such as muscle or joint strain. The symptoms of low back pain usually improve within a few weeks from the time they start, with 40–90% of people recovered by six weeks. The condition may be further classified by the underlying cause as either mechanical, non-mechanical, or referred pain. Low back pain may be classified by duration as acute (pain lasting less than 6 weeks), sub-chronic (6 to 12 weeks), or chronic (more than 12 weeks). Pain can vary from a dull constant ache to a sudden sharp feeling. Low back pain ( LBP) or lumbago is a common disorder involving the muscles, nerves, and bones of the back, in between the lower edge of the ribs and the lower fold of the buttocks. Usually non-specific, occasionally significant underlying cause Ĭontinued normal activity, non-medication based treatments, NSAIDs Orthopedics, rheumatology, rehabilitation medicineĪcute (less than 6 weeks), sub-chronic (6 to 12 weeks), chronic (more than 12 weeks)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |