Treating the Pain
Typically, acute low-back pain comes on suddenly and without apparent reason. Symptoms of sciatic nerve
involvement--twinges, numbness, burning--may also be present. For such cases, a regimen of bed rest, hot baths
and aspirin or a prescribed painkiller usually provides relief. A short course of muscle relaxants may be recommended.
If sagging abdominal muscles need support, a girdle is helpful.
In about 90 percent of all cases, low-back pain subsides within two months. However, if the circumstances that caused
it are not altered, it is likely to recur.
Preventing a Recurrence
As soon as possible after the acute pain subsides, exercises should be undertaken to strengthen muscles in the back and
abdomen. A long-term weight-reducing plan may also be advised. Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises may help reduce
tension and stress.
If your daily routine involves many hours of standing, check your posture in profile. Your chest should be raised,
buttocks tucked in and stomach flat. Sedentary workers should have a chair with armrests,, support for the lower back,
a movable upper section and an adjustment for height, so that feet can rest on the floor. When picking things up,
bend at the knees only. If the object is heavy, hold it close to flexed abdominal muscles. Sports involving sudden
body movements should be avoided in favor of walking, jogging, cycling and swimming.
Chronic Disabling Pain
When diagnostic tests determine that the cause of severe and unremitting back pain is nerve damage, tumor, arthritis
or bone inflammation, therapy involves more extensive treatment, which may include surgery, drugs and physical therapy.
Very often, long-time sufferers from back pain of unidentifiable origin become "lower back cripples," limiting their
activities and life style for fear of provoking pain. If the back becomes an excuse for avoiding responsibilities or
confronting underlying problems, professional counseling should be considered.
Summing Up
Back pain is one of our most common health problems, but it can usually be resolved by proper exercise, heat, diet
and other conservative measures. While 90 percent of all back pains dissipate within a few weeks, precautions should
be taken to prevent their recurrence. Less frequent causes of lower back pain include arthritis, tumors and structural
or neurological defects, which require clinical treatment.
