Low Back Pain Leaf

What Is Low Back Pain?
Over 80% of the population will suffer from back pain during their lifetime.it is one of the most
prominent reasons why people visit the doctor or miss work. In approximately 90% of cases, it is
temporary and pain improves without surgery. However, 50% of patients who suffer from episodes of
low back pain will have recurrent episodes within one year. Lower back pain can be categorised as
acute, subacute or chronic. Acute episodes of lower back pain usually last from a few days to 4 weeks
and subacute lower back pain lasts between 4 to 12 weeks., About 20 % of acute back pain sufferers
go on to develop chronic back pain—defined as pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer.
What are the Causes of Back Pain?

Back pain is usually associated with the following conditions:
➢ strain of a muscle or sprain of the ligament

➢ Lifting a heavy object with poor body mechanics
➢ Sudden movements that cause too much stress on the low back, such as a fall, road traffic
accidents
➢ Poor ergonomics for long time
➢ Sports injuries, especially in sports that involve twisting or large forces of impact
This type of acute pain can be quite severe but do not typically last for longer time & can be managed
conservatively.
Normally, Discs are sandwiched between the vertebrae. They act as cushions between them. Each disc
has inner soft gelatinous layer covered by a tough outer layer.
Degenerative disc disease: With aging, discs become thinner and flatter due to wear and tear. Water
content in the disc reduces, this lessens their ability to cushion the vertebrae and become more
susceptible to tear.
Herniated disc: due to aging or overuse, the protective covering on intervertebral discs can tear over
time. When this happens, the soft gelatinous inner disc material may herniate through the outer layer.
A disc that bulges or slips out of place is known as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or slipped disc. The
herniation may cause compression on nerve roots, leading to symptoms like pain (may or may not be
radiating), tingling, numbness or weakness in the area innervated by the affected nerve.
Sciatica: The sciatica nerve runs down your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each
leg. Pain occurs when this nerve gets pinched or irritated. Commonly people refer to pain that travels
down the leg from the lower back as sciatica, although your doctor may refer it as lumbar
radiculopathy.
Spondylolisthesis: A vertebra slides forward out of position, disrupting alignment of the spine and
sometimes compressing nerve roots. It can occur anywhere along the spine but more common in the
lumbar region. This slippage is often caused by either disc degeneration or a fractured
vertebra(spondylolysis).
Spinal stenosis: A narrowing of the inside spaces of your spine, most often from a herniated disc but
sometimes from bone spurs caused by spinal osteoarthritis. This can result in painful pressure on your
spinal nerves. Spinal stenosis is more common in the lumbar region, followed by cervical region.
Spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis): Osteoarthritis can frequently result in lower back aches.
Generally, this happens with aging.
Vertebral Osteoporosis: The backbone can develop fractures and cause pain, as osteoporosis makes
the bones brittle and porous. Commonly seen in elderly & in menopausal women due to hormonal
changes.
Kidney stones can also result in back pain.
What are the Risk Factors of Low Back Pain?

General risk factors of low back pain:
➢ Age
➢ obese
➢ Genetics
➢ Sedentary lifestyle
➢ pregnancy
➢ Smoking – it affects the delivery of nutrients to important structures in the back, and can also
make healing from back injuries or surgery more difficult and less effective.
What are the Symptoms of Back Pain?
It starts as pain in the low back that can radiate down into the glutes (buttocks), hips or legs.
pain can be sharp, stabbing, dull aching type, burning or a combination of all of these.
➢ Pain can be constant, intermittent or activity-related

➢ Difficulty moving
➢ Swelling
➢ Stiffness
➢ Inability to stand up straight
➢ Inability to flex the back
How is Back Pain Diagnosed?

Based on thorough clinical history & clinical examination., your doctor probably would have come to
one or two conclusions as to what is causing your back pain and other symptoms. To obtain more
information about your back problem, and to help confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may request one
or more of the following tests:
➢ X-ray to rule out arthritis and fractures.

➢ CT or MRI scans to detect herniated discs and abnormalities with bones, muscles, tendons,
nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels.
➢ Blood tests to rule out infection
➢ Bone scan, performed to measure bone health and risk for breaking bones.
➢ Electromyography (EMG) & Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) are advised when a particular
muscle or nerve is the culprit of pain.
➢ Diagnostic injections: Generally, spinal injections are given to control the pain, but they can
also be given to aid in the diagnosis of the pain generator. These include discography, selective
nerve root block, facet joint injections, sacroiliac joint injections.
What is the Treatment for Back Pain?

Back pain is an illness that affects everyone differently. A majority of back pain improves after a month
of conservative treatment, while for some, the discomfort lasts a few months to years. Bed rest is not
advised. Instead, it is recommended to continue activities to the extent that one is capable. Light
exercise, such as regular walking and daily activities, are advised. If conservative measures don’t work
after a few weeks, the doctor may prescribe more potent drugs or other treatments that include;
Common medications for back pain include:
➢ over-the-counter pain medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

➢ Muscle relaxants
➢ Opioids
➢ Ant neuropathic medications
➢ Topical rubs and ointments
Physical Therapy:
This includes active and inactive treatments.
Inactive treatments include heat & cold packs, ultrasound massage, TENS etc., These help to improve
the circulation by reducing the inflammation, pain & helps to relax the muscle. Active treatments
include conventional therapies such as stretching and strengthening movements and exercises. A
customised physical therapy helps the back pain sufferers to restore the function & return to their
normal work.
Non-surgical Pain Management:

Lumbar epidural injection – Your doctor will insert a small needle into the epidural area and
administer a small dose of medication to relieve the pain under fluoroscopic guidance. It is regarded
as very effective for the treatment of back pain. This is just similar to the injection given in the back to
relieve the labor pain during the delivery.
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection – This procedure is similar to the one above, but instead of
injecting the medication directly into the nerve fibres, the drug is focused directly onto the affected
nerve fibres, resulting in delivery of more medicine in the affected area.
Spinal cord stimulations – It is a wonderful and effective therapeutic option that can relieve pain
without surgery when the inflammation in and around the affected nerves is too high for an epidural
injection.
Radiofrequency ablation – In this procedure, the affected nerve is degenerated with the help of heat.
how Back Pain can be Prevented?

➢ Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
➢ Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
➢ Maintain proper posture.
➢ Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
➢ Sleep on a quality medium firm mattress to minimize any curve in your spine.
➢ Quit smoking
➢ Doing proper exercise regularly
➢ Follow Proper lifting & carrying techniques while handling the heavy objects.
Contact us:
PROCARE MEDICAL CENTER

1st Floor, BCG Estate, NH Bypass, Next to Nexa Showroom, Palarivattom, Cochin – 682025
9656684000, 04843559898

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What Is Low Back Pain?

What are the Causes of Back Pain?

➢ strain of a muscle or sprain of the ligament

Kidney stones can also result in back pain.

What are the Risk Factors of Low Back Pain?

➢ Pain can be constant, intermittent or activity-related

How is Back Pain Diagnosed?

➢ X-ray to rule out arthritis and fractures.

What is the Treatment for Back Pain?

Common medications for back pain include:

➢ over-the-counter pain medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Non-surgical Pain Management:

how Back Pain can be Prevented?

PROCARE MEDICAL CENTER

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