Have you been sitting in the same position for too long or do you have a herniated disc? These are some of the causes of lower back pain. According to specialists, the correct name for this condition is lower back pain, although it is colloquially known as lumbago.
Low back pain (lumbago) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO); however, recovery from this condition is also possible through rehabilitation processes.
According to the internist, Stuardo Batres, the patient should not self-medicate. Batres mentions that in Guatemala people usually take diclofenac to relieve pain, when in reality what is appropriate is to consult with a specialist, either a traumatologist or an orthopedic specialist, before opting for any treatment.
In this regard, Dr. Ruy Gil, a neurosurgeon specializing in the spine, mentions that 80 percent of the population will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives, although he also mentions that most of these episodes are reversible and improve spontaneously.
What are the causes of lower back pain?
According to Gil, the main cause is a certain degree of degeneration in some discs of the spine, usually the last two discs of the lumbar vertebrae. People notice it when they make a small effort (bending over, for example) and experience a very strong pain and become paralyzed.
In this case, a small acute injury occurs in the disc wall and this generates an inflammatory response, the muscles contract and this generates pain, says the specialist. This is mainly due to some of these causes:
- Genetic factor: Certain people have a genetic predisposition to suffer from this disease.
- Carrying heavy things: Batres mentions that when people perform jobs that require carrying heavy things and do not use proper belts to protect themselves from injuries, this can cause a herniated disc. Hence, lower back pain.
- Accidents: For example, when a person brakes hard, they may suffer a lot of stress and strain their lower back. However, Gil mentions that this is rare.
- Smoking: This problem is also associated with spinal problems: “There is a cause-effect relationship between nicotine and disc degeneration,” says Gil.
- Spending a lot of time sitting: Both Batres and Gil say that spending a lot of time in a seat can cause lower back pain. This is common in bus drivers, secretaries, call center agents, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to take breaks every hour to avoid these discomforts.
- Physical activity. If you are a sportsperson or athlete or just go to the gym and make a wrong move, it can cause lower back pain. Gil mentions that this can occur when doing high-impact sports.
- Obesity. In some cases, this factor also predisposes the patient to suffer from pain in the lumbar area.
What is recommended for pain?
Usually, these episodes do not require specific treatment and resolve naturally. However, if you feel very intense pain, the most important thing is to consult an orthopedic surgeon or traumatologist, especially if the pain is very strong.
To temporarily relieve the pain, you can take a non-steroidal analgesic recommended by your doctor, since each case is unique, says Batres.
As for prevention, specialists recommend that those who spend a lot of time in their work seats do stretching exercises every hour to avoid muscle spasms, lower back pain, and other related conditions. We share a video with useful exercises for this:
You can also walk for five minutes to avoid staying in the same position for a long time. Remember that prevention is the key to enjoying health and well-being.