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According to statistics, about three in every four people have experienced lower back pain at least once in their lifetime. Although many can have bouts with back pain, most of these attacks are not really serious. In fact, pain in that area is mostly caused by sprains and overstretching of muscles.
Lower back pain can range from mild to excruciating. If you have experienced the extreme type of ache in your lower back, you will agree that anyone who is suffering from it would be more than willing to drink anything just to ease the pain and be able to alleviate the stiffness. However, the treatment of this condition is actually dependent on the underlying causes. In order for you to get rid of your lower back pain for good, you first need to have an idea of what are the triggers for lower back pain.
Simple Lower Back Problem
Majority of cases of lower back pain fall into this category. Around 19 of the 20 instances of acute lower back problem can also be classified under this type, which is also known as non-specific type.
People usually experience simple back pain due to sprained muscles or ligaments. Many patients experience the pain right after bending or lifting very heavy objects. On the other hand, some feel the pain after a few hours or even days. In some instances, the pain can also be caused by slight problems with either the small joints or the disc located in the middle of two vertebrae.
This type of problem usually does not last very long. In fact, patients usually recover or report drastic improvement within 7 to 14 days. Statistics show that in some people, the pain can be dramatically relieved within a month; while in 9 out of 10 cases, the pain can be gone in less than two months. However, many also report recurrences of pain every now and then. Only a small number of cases result to chronic or long-lasting lower back woes.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
This is another underlying reason why people experience extreme aches in their lower back. Although this condition is quite rare, it is important to remember that this can be very serious and usually needs immediate medical attention.
A pinched nerve on the lower part of the spinal cord causes this syndrome. More often than not, this disorder is not only painful, but also impairs bowel and bladder functions. If you experience sudden weakness in one or both of your lower limbs and numbness in the area surrounding your anus, you need to call the doctor immediately. If not properly treated, the affected nerves might be damaged permanently.
Trapped Nerve
An irritated or strained nerve in the spinal cord is the main cause of this type of lower back pain. This can occur in about one for every 20 lower back pain cases. You will know that a nerve in the back is in trouble because you will really feel the ache along the path of the nerve. Usually, patients feel tingling pain or sensation down to the feet and legs. And sometimes, the pain you feel on your leg is much more severe than that on your lower back.
Arthritis
Another culprit for lower back problems is the inflammation of the spine joints. This is more common in elderly people. The most common type of arthritis responsible for such pain is osteoarthritis. However, young people who experience lower back pain due to joint inflammation might be suffering from Ankylosing spondylitis which can cause stiffness in the affected area.
The most common treatment for lower back pain is the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers combined with exercise and physical therapy. However, if the reason for your back pain is arthritis, you can look for supplements that contain glucosamine sulfate, which has been well documented to help ease arthritic pain and stiffness. One product that can help you alleviate lower back pain and improve your condition naturally is Flexcerin. For more information, visit
If the pain in your back worsens, or you can't find relief through moderate exercise and over the counter medications, it's time to see a doctor to find the cause of lower back pain. There can be many reasons why you're having back pain and they can extend beyond simple muscle sprains. Finding the cause can be tricky though, because many times the problem won't show up on an x-ray or MRI. For example, a spine slightly out of alignment with your body may not be very noticeable, yet it causes d8aily pain.
The doctor will do many tests to begin eliminating each possible cause of lower back pain. For example, he or she will manipulate the leg through various moves to determine if the pain increases or results in pain elsewhere in the body. Some tests you will be familiar with such as the reflex test. Other tests may be unfamiliar but they are very simple. If the doctor determines the basic moves indicate further testing is necessary to find the cause of lower back pain, the next steps will be taken.
Some of the tests the doctor will perform entail the use of very high tech medical equipment. Each test can provide a higher level of detail of your spine and surrounding muscle and ligaments. Most people have had an x-ray in their life, but an x-ray will only show bones. If the cause of lower back pain is muscle, tendon, ligament or nerve damage, the x-ray is pretty much a useless test.
The MRI, on the other hand, gives a lot more information about your back. It can show the doctor the condition of every part of the structure of your back including the nerves and discs. There are so many possible causes of lower back pain, that when pain won't subside, the MRI is a great tool for diagnostic testing. Other testing methods include a CAT scan or a discogram. A discogram involves injecting dye into the spinal discs to pinpoint the source of pain.
So what can be the cause of lower back pain? There are numerous conditions that can result in ongoing back pain.
* Herniated disc
* Pinched nerve
* Strained muscle
* Spinal tumor
* Degenerative disease
* Infection
* Arthritis
* Osteoporosis
* Fractures
With all these potential causes of back pain, it's no wonder it can take several months and lots of testing to determine the problem. The lower back is particularly susceptible to pain, because it has a lot of pressure put on it while sitting. People who sit at desks all day frequently end up with lower back pain. In that case, strengthening the lower back muscles can work wonders. There are even special chairs made that take the strain and pressure off the lower back while sitting.
The good news is that most of the time the cause of lower back pain is quite simple, and can be corrected with moderate exercise.