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LOW BACK PAIN Almost all of us can expect to have pains in the lower back at least once in our lives. Low back pain strikes in many ways. You might feel a dull ache, sometimes along with burning, or even numbness or tingling. The pain may shoot down your buttocks and into your legs. Low back pain can come on quickly, or it can get worse slowly over many days or weeks. Some people may have bouts of back pain on and off for weeks or months. It can be so severe that it turns daily life into a painful chore. Many things can bring it on. Simple muscle strains are among the most common causes. Stress is another common source: Just as some of us get headaches when we're feeling tense and on edge, others get backaches. Disk problems are another cause of low-back woes. Disks are tough pads of tissue that act as shock absorbers in the spine. Sometimes a disk will weaken, bulge out, and press on a nerve. The good news: You can do a lot to prevent low back pain. If your back does begin to hurt, be patient. Ninety percent of all low back pain goes away within a month or so. There's also plenty you can do yourself to speed your recovery. Only rarely do people need treatment. If you do, your doctor can help with drugs and physical therapy. Surgery can be an option when the pain is very bad and the doctor can find a clear cause for it. Symptoms: The most common symptoms are: Dull or sharp pain that may be severe. It may come on quickly, or it may start slowly and get worse over time. It may be constant or come on only at certain times-for instance, when you're in certain postures or after certain movements. It may be confined to one area of your back or it may move around. Stiffness. You may also feel: Numbness, tingling, or shooting pains in your legs or buttocks, often on one side only, can result if a disk in your low back is pressing on a nerve. Pain, sometimes intense, that's worse when you cough, sneeze, twist, or sit for long periods. Most causes of back pain, even pain from bulging disks, go away within a month with proper self-care. Only about one case in 200 needs medical treatment. Call your doctor for advice if your pain is so severe that it's hard for you to do your work or other tasks of daily living, if it lasts longer than a month, or if you have the pain or numbness of a pinched nerve. The doctor will take a detailed history to find out whether another illness (for instance, kidney stones) is causing your back pain. Tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-rays can help tell whether the problem is in your spine. A bone density scan can check for osteoporosis-"thinning bones," a major source of pain in middle age and beyond. Computerized X-ray tomography (CT scan) can show whether you have spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal that may squeeze nerves. What Causes it? No one can say exactly why one person gets low back pain and another doesn't, but we do know of many things that can increase your risk. Some-such as your age and some illnesses-are beyond your control. But you can do plenty about many others. Things you can't change Age Low back pain is most common in the middle-aged. Experts don't know why. Health problems Many health problems can cause back pain. They include osteoporosis, or thinning of the bones; scoliosis, an extreme curve of the spine from a birth defect or weak muscles; and spinal stenosis, narrowing of the spinal canal. Even some minor illnesses such as the flu can cause backaches, above all if you spend lots of time in bed. Injury A fall or blow to the back can strain or tear tissues around the spine, or even break a bone. Things you can change Stress or anger Strong emotions can cause your back muscles to tighten, and tight muscles can lead to cramps. Tight muscles are also prone to strains. You can't always avoid the things that make you tense, but you can take steps to relieve tension and reduce your risk of back trouble. How you move Awkward movements, twisting, or reaching too far can pull or tear a tendon, ligament, or muscle in your back, above all when the muscle is tight. Lifting heavy objects by bending your back and not your legs is another common source of back pain. Lack of exercise Your spine needs the support of strong muscles, front as well as back, to protect it. If you don't exercise enough, the muscles around your middle get weak, and that leaves you open to injury. The wrong exercise If you tend to get lots of back pains, think about whether you engage in many sports or tasks that involve twisting or bending. Bad posture Your risk of back pain goes up if you slouch a lot or stand or sit for hours at a time with your back curved and your shoulders bent. Watch out for high heels, too. A normal spine is slightly S-shaped, and your low back has an inward curve. High heels can increase the curve, and that puts extra strain on the muscles and disks. Sleep habits The way you sleep may be causing your back to ache. If you sleep on your stomach, if your mattress is too soft, or if your pillow is too big, you may be curving your spine too much. If your mattress is too firm, it may keep your back too straight for comfort. Skipping warmups Anyone who exercises without warming up first is asking for trouble. That's because muscles are more prone to strains and tears when they're cold and stiff than when they've been loosened up. Too much weight If you weigh more than you should, your risk of low back pain goes way up. Extra pounds mean a bigger load for the low back to support. If you carry lots of weight around your waist, then your risk of back problems goes even higher. That's because a big stomach pulls the low back out of its proper alignment. |