Lumbago is a general term used to describe lower back pain

Lower Back Pain

Perhaps man would have been better suited to getting along on all fours, rather than standing upright. It is standing upright that puts strain on the spine, making it prone to the injuries, diseases and bad posture habits that cause lower spinal pain.

The spine consists of bones separated by cartilage discs, which allow the spine to bend, but the more the spine bends, the more strain there is on the discs. If while bending the discs are in any way traumatized, for instance, when picking up a heavy weight or in an accident, the discs may be damaged or deformed so that they press against a nerve - voila, lower spinal pain.

Lumbago is a general term used to describe this condition. Lower spinal pain may be in the form of a sudden, sharp pain, such as in a slipped disc, or a gradual pain due, for instance, to arthritis. In this regard, lumbago strikes with impunity the young manual laborer as well as the sedentary elderly person.

The pain often extends from the lower part of the back right down into the buttocks, occasionally even as far as the back of the thighs. It may be accompanied by numbness or an unnervingly tingly sensation.

Sufferers find it difficult to move, especially bending forwards or leaning backwards. Patients having difficulty in breathing should visit their doctor or nearest hospital post haste.

As with many types of pain, but typical of lower spinal pain, muscle spasms around the spine may cause a stiff back and cause the sufferer to stand or walk in an unnatural manner, as though he or she in an effort to ease the pain is trying to escape from the pain.

Treatment in both acute and chronic cases includes pain killers and an anti-inflammatory accompanied by a gentle exercise program or spinal therapy. Experts don't usually recommend traction and surgery is necessary in very rare cases.

Acute cases may find homeopathic remedies and treatments like massage and heat therapy almost immediately beneficial.

In is usually advised in chronic cases that patients adopt a pain management program that utilizes a variety of treatments, particularly when the cause of the pain is unknown. The effectiveness of this will be seen in the longer term as patients learn to adopt good spinal health and see for themselves which treatments are suited to their individual lifestyles.