Lumbago
What is lumbago?
Lumbago is a term describing general mid to lower back pain.
What Causes lumbago?
The exact causes of lumbago are unknown or rather its cause could be put down to a variety of things such as lifting objects that are too heavy and not lifting them in a proper way, overuse of the back, or as a result of some other condition you may be suffering from.
A common cause of backache is weak stomach muscles, which increases the stress on the back muscles.
Several factors can contribute to back pain, like a sprain or spasm in a muscle or ligament, compression of the spine, or bulging or ruptured discs, all of which can put pressure on the nerves in the area. Back pain can also result from more serious disorders ranging from a trapped nerve to diabetes and cancer, and although it is often very difficult to determine the exact cause of back pain, some people may develop it for no apparent reason.
What are the Symptoms of Lumbago?
Symptoms usually include:
- Pain in the lower back that doesn’t radiate down through the legs
- Stiffness of the back especially in the morning
- Poor posture or an “S” shape in the spine.
Lumbago may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Loss of sensation in the soles of the feet or in the calf region
- Loss of plantar flexion (pointing) of the foot
- Back stiffness in other areas of the spine.
What Treatment can you have for Lumbago?
Things you can do yourself
- Remain active but refrain from partisiapting in any activities that may exacerbate the pain in your lower back
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Apply heat, for example through hot baths and water bottles
- Use of anti-inflammatory, pain re-leaving medicine (always seek advice from a medical professional).
- Due to weak stomach muscles often being a cause, regular gentle stomach muscle exercise may make a big difference
- Think about your posture
- Avoid lifting heavy objects. If you need to lift heavy objects, do so properly and don’t strain.
Rehabilitation treatment
- Professionals will advise you on your posture and exercises to improve it
- Ultrasound
- Massages
- Strengthening program
- Traction or joint manipulation techniques