At some point in our lives, we’re going to have pain in our lower back. Most of the time, it goes away on its own or with a little at-home TLC. But when it’s constant and keeps you from living your best life, there may be a serious problem going on in your back.
The official name for the mid to low section of your back is the lumbar area. This part of your spine includes an integrated map of bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. Together, they create a complex network that moves your body, supports it, and helps you do everything from walking to standing.
But when any one part of the structure is out of place, it can cause issues throughout the entire network.
Your lower back has a lot of pressure, both literally and figuratively. It holds the weight of your entire upper body and is responsible for jobs like bending, twisting, and rotating the hips while you walk.
You probably don’t even realize when you’re using your back because it’s designed to complete its roles seamlessly. Any part of the structure that is injured, though, impacts the entire network, even if you don’t have any pain.
Acute lower back pain is almost always the result of an injury to a muscle, disc, joint, or ligament in the area. Your body responds to that injury by inflaming the area to “heal it.” The inflammation causes severe pain as the nerves are squeezed and pushed.
Muscles and ligaments can heal quickly if you take care of them early. Torn, bulging, and herniated discs, on the other hand, will require more care.
Treatment for lumbar spine conditions depends on the cause of the pain. Strains and sprains, for instance, can be cared for at home with conservative measures. Joint dysfunction, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease, among other conditions, will probably need more long-term and hands-on therapy.
To relieve your pain from home and strengthen the muscles, gently exercise and stretch the back throughout the day. Pay attention to your posture and sit and stand straight.
Weight is a significant factor in the stress on your back. People who are overweight are more likely to have lower back problems. Your doctor may recommend weight loss if your back pain is moderate to severe.
Chiropractic and massage therapy can relieve the symptoms and help you get back to your daily routine.
Back pain that is the result of inflammation can be relieved by taking anti-inflammatory medication and using heat and ice packs. Interchange the hot and cold therapy, leaving each pack on for about 15 - 20 minutes, three times per day.
If the pain doesn’t go away and lasts for more than a few weeks, talk to your physician about more extensive options.
Another way to treat your back pain without going to the doctor is to purchase a CPM machine.
Short for Continuous Passive Motion, the machine offers the same type of treatment you’d get in a professional setting. It promotes healing by moving the fluids in your back’s joints, increasing blood flow to the injured area, and speeding up your recovery.
Decompression has been shown to be beneficial to the body since it aids in the movement of synovial fluids through the joints. Decompression, on the other hand, is costly because it must be done twice a year; that money could purchase 6 Back Pro Motorized tables and have the same result.
