Low Back Pain FAQ Information on Treatment and Outcome

Low Back Pain FAQ

1. Who is affected by Lower back pain?

Most people deal with some form of low back pain over their lifetime. It is most common in people who are between the ages of 40 and 80, so these people are the ones who can benefit most from knowing more about the condition and following some low back pain tips for prevention. Low back pain is the most common cause of work-related disability and it leads all other reasons for days missed from work. Here's a low back pain tip if you need to miss work: Don't spend all your time off from work in bed or laying down. Your muscles get weak very quickly, so even a few days of inactivity can result in weakness. Unless your doctor has ordered bed rest, try to be up at least part of the day for short periods of time.

2. What causes lower back pain?

Low back pain usually occurs for more than one reason. This makes knowing low back pain tips even more important.  Your spine and the muscles associated with it form your body's "core." This is what gives you the flexibility as well as the strength to complete your daily hobbies, work, and other activities. Any sort of imbalance that's related to the spinal column or its surrounding tissues (tendons, ligaments, discs, or tendons) can cause pain.

Factors that may exacerbate or initially cause low back pain include increased levels of stress, repetitive motions, dietary factors, a sedentary lifestyle, lifting, genetic factors, poor posture, age, and high-impact activities. can cause or exacerbate low back pain include stress level, diet, repetitive movements, poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, poor lifting habits, genetics, high impact work/hobbies, and age.

The most frequent physiological causes of low back pain include:

• Compression of the nerves
• Fractures
• Irritation of the facet joints
• Narrowing of the spinal canal
• Disc injuries

Low back pain is frequently accompanied by muscle tension and spasms, difficulty completing daily tasks and increased pain with prolonged sitting or standing in one position. Low back pain tips can help you cope with these associated symptoms, but if they persist, it's important to be seen by your physician.

3. How can lower back pain affect me?

Acute low back pain usually resolves on its own by following some simple low back pain tips. If the pain and other symptoms do not resolve within 2 to 4 weeks, it's important to see your physician. A medical doctor can help diagnose the cause of the pain and recommend appropriate treatment in addition to basic low back pain tips.

The effects of low back pain can be psychological as well as physical, especially if the pain becomes chronic. Sleep often becomes disrupted and people with pain often begin neglecting their hobbies, social activities and exercise routines due to a fear of pain. For these reasons, depression is common in people with chronic low back pain. There are several ways to cope with the emotional problems of chronic pain. One low back pain tip to ward off depression is to avoid isolating yourself. Another low back pain tip to fight depression is to try to spend some time outside every day. Low back pain tips from others who have suffered from the problem can help you as well.

4. What can I do to prevent lower back pain?

One of the best low back pain tips for prevention is to pursue a healthy, balanced lifestyle. The choices we make have the great impact on how well we can cope with injury and pain. One research study indicated that low back pain was more common in people who rated their lifestyle and health status as only "poor to fair."   Factors that increase the risk for low back pain include repetitive bending and lifting with daily work, a history of cigarette smoking, age, unhealthy dietary and exercise choices.

Considering this information, good low back pain tips include the following:

• Best low back pain tips 1: Avoid repetitive bending and lifting
• Best low back pain tips 2: Stop smoking and limit your exposure to second-hand smoke
• Best low back pain tips 3: Make healthy dietary choices and maintain a healthy weight
• Best low back pain tips 4: Make exercise a part of your usual routine

Engaging in regular exercise is one of the best low back pain tips. Regular activity is an important part of life; it keeps the body balanced and physically fit. It helps regulate the metabolism and also can help ward off depression by stimulating the release of endorphins.

Another one of the best low back pain tips is to maintain a strong core. When your abdominal muscles are not strong, even a simple movement can result in a back injury. The spine needs a strong core to prevent stress on the vertebrae. A physical therapist can help you in working out an exercise program to build your core strength without injuring your back. Asking your physician for a referral to a physical therapist may be a good low back pain tip you can use.

5. What are my treatment options?

If you have low back pain that is persistent, the first low back pain tip you need to take is to see your doctor. A doctor can help you find the cause of your pain and can provide options for treatment that may include medications, physical therapy, injections or a referral to a specialist. Most often, treatments that are the least invasive will be tried first. Surgery for low back pain is usually only recommended in serious and severe cases.

Most research has shown that it helps to stay active following an injury, so a good low back pain tip is to avoid bed rest. Remaining as active as possible keeps your blood flowing and available to the area that needs to heal and it helps keeps your muscles from growing weak. Try to find activities that don't cause increased pain and, of course, another good low back pain tip you need to take is don't force yourself to exercise when you are having an episode of intense pain.

6. What kind of outcome can I expect?

The outcome of low back pain depends on many different factors including the reason for the pain, the motivation of the patient, the overall health of the patient and prior flexibility and strength. With the help of professionals like doctors and physical therapists and by following a few low back pain tips, most pain can resolve more quickly and patients can resume their normal life.