How to treat low back pain

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Low back pain can occur anywhere below the ribs and above the legs. It causes pain on the back when lifting, reaching or twisting. You can learn more about treatment options by enrolling in a first aid course today.

Causes of low back pain

• Aging and illness
• Overstrain or injuries
• Herniated disc, arthritis and compression fractures
• Inborn spine problems

Symptoms of low back pain

The low back pain can be dull or sharp and oftentimes there are muscle spasms. The legs can also experience numbness, pain or tingling and can spread to the knees. Low back pain is either short-term or acute and can heal in a few weeks and it becomes long-lasting or chronic if the person is depressed or under stress.

Symptoms of low back pain caused by back sprain or strain

• There is pain in the back and sometimes in the buttocks that attacks quickly or gradually. Some body movement can make the pain worse and while performing light activities like walking makes the feeling better. Severe pain usually lasts 48-72 hours or days up to weeks.
• There is muscle spasm, stiffness and cramping

Low back pain caused by nerve-root pressure

• A pain that spreads below the knee that is caused by pressure on a nerve or it is a pain that starts in the buttocks and spreads down the back of the legs down to the ankle or foot. This pain is also known as sciatica.
• Nerve related sensations such as numbness or weakness can be felt in the leg in the foot or both legs. Tingling sensations starts in the buttocks and spreads to the ankle or foot.

Low back pain caused by arthritis of the spine

• Pain is worse in the back and the hip regions
• It begins gradually and pain gets worse over time and can last for 3-6 months
• The pain is severe in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity and the pain is minimized when starting to move or walk around.

Treatment and home remedies

• Apply cold compress to the lower back for about 5 minutes in order to minimize pain, swelling and inflammation.
• Take a hot water bath or shower or use a heating pad to relax the aching back. The heat increases circulation by opening the blood vessels and getting nutrients to the affected areas.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to minimize the symptoms of pain in the lower back.
• Apply hot and cold compresses alternately every hour.
• Do some exercises by lying face-down on the floor, then press the hands against the floor and raise the upper body and arching the back slightly. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then repeat this exercise for 10-15 minutes. This exercise will extend the muscle found in the back and will relieve a lot of pain in the lower back.
• Another exercise is by flexing the lumbar muscles by getting the hands and knees, then arching the back. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then repeat for 10 to 15 times. This exercise will help release the stress in the lower spine.