Lower Back Pain

You are not alone if you are suffering from lower back pain. Almost everyone suffers from back pain at some point in life. The condition is troublesome not only because it causes pain but also because it interferes with work, daily activities and routine, or recreation.

Back pain is, actually, the second most common neurological ailment in the United States, second only to headache. The good news is that mostly lower back pain lasts only for a few days. However, there are cases where the condition could last longer.

Each year, Americans spend an average of $50 billion on treatment or research for prevention of lower back pain. The condition has been cited as one of the most common causes of job-related disability, leading the person to miss work.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is classified by duration. Therefore, if the pain lasts only for a few days to a few weeks, it is short-term or acute lower back pain. However, if the pain persists for more than three months, then the condition is already chronic.

Chronic lower back pain is progressive. This means that the symptoms can only get worse over time. There are a number of possible causes but they are difficult to find out with each case. That is why people who suffer back pain that lasts for far longer than what is considered “normal” are advised to consult the doctor as soon as possible.

Acute Lower Back Pain

Sometimes referred to as short-term lower back pain, acute lower back pain extends any time from a few days to a few weeks. The condition is considered as mechanical in nature as it is often the result of trauma to the lower back.

Short-term back pain may also be caused by disorders that affect the spine, such as arthritis, sports injury, working around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt that adds stress to the spinal bones and tissues. One example of the latter is when you receive trauma to your lower back due to a car accident.

The condition has symptoms that range from muscle aches to shooting or stabbing pain. Short-term lower back pain may also limit your flexibility and/or range of motion. Sometimes, it may even lead to inability to stand straight.

If left untreated, some acute lower back pain may lead to more serious conditions.

Self-Treatment

Since pain to the lower back is fairly common, there are quite a few home remedies used for the treatment of Lower back pain. Most of the time the lower back pain treatment involves using analgesics or taking drugs that reduce inflammation, restore appropriate function and strength, and prevent reappearance of the injury.

Cold and hot compresses are also often used for lower back pain treatment even though the same has not been scientifically proven for lower back pain treatment. Patients are advised to consult the doctor, if there is no improvement after 72 hours of self-care.