Know the Causes and Ways to Overcome Lower Back Pain

Low back pain or in medical terms known as low back pain is the most common occurrence in society. Pain in the waist or lower back can be felt up to the buttocks and thighs. In some cases, the pain can radiate to the feet. The lower back is made up of the backbone, ligaments, and muscles. This body part is a strong structure and plays an important role in supporting the body when standing upright and when moving in various directions. In fact, according to research, every person, during his life 60 to 90% has experienced low back pain. About 50-80% of working adults have suffered from Low Back Pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Back Pain

Low back pain can be mild or it can be severe. This condition can also occur suddenly, or it can be gradual, until it feels coming and going but gradually gets worse over time. Depending on the underlying cause of the pain, symptoms can be experienced in a variety of ways, such as:

• Lower back pain
• Pain radiating to the leg
• Stabbing pain, heat and tingling
• Limited range of motion at the waist

The characteristics of this pain all depend on the cause of the pain.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

The most common cause of low back pain is a torn or pulled muscle or ligament. This can take the form of a sprain or lower back strain it can occur suddenly, or it can develop slowly over time due to repetitive motion. Lower back pain can also be caused by a number of factors such as:

• Problems with muscles & ligaments
• Problems with the spine, for example: spondylosis, spondylolisthesis, fractures
• Problems with the disc, for example: a herniation / protrusion of the vertebral disc
• The presence of malignancy, infection and rheumatism.
• There are problems in certain organs, for example: in the reproductive organs, kidneys or digestive organs (gastrointestinal).
• Smoking causes joint elasticity to decrease.

Apart from the above causes, low back pain is also more at risk for people who have the following conditions:

• 30–50 years old
• Obesity
• Is pregnant
• Disturbance in body posture
• Psychological disorders (stress, depression, anxiety, etc.)
• Rarely exercise
• Having a job that requires a lot of sitting, bending over, or lifting heavy objects
• Too often wearing high heels

What to do if we suffer from low back pain?

• The first step that can be taken is to prevent or reduce all activities that put pressure on the spine and make the pain worse.
• Give a cold compress on the back 15-20 minutes for three days after back pain appears, replace it with a warm compress.
• If needed, simple painkillers (paracetamol) can be given.
• Immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment according to the cause.
• Doing physiotherapy according to doctor's advice

How to prevent low back pain?

• Regular exercise 3 times a week with a minimum duration of 30 minutes to strengthen muscles, so that they can stabilize and support the spine better (there are special movements for this).
• Maintain good posture, whether at work or at rest, to reduce stress on the spine and intervertebral discs.
• Lifting heavy objects with the correct body position, with more emphasis on the legs and not on the back.
• Quit smoking

For hermina's friends experiencing low back pain, they can consult at RSU Hermina Pandanaran. Get easy doctor registration through the halo hermina mobile application, call center 1500488 and the website www.herminahospitals.com