Acute lower back pain is something that most adults will have to learn to cope with. Back pain is one of the most wide spread forms of pain, which is ironic because it is so easy to prevent. Sadly, most of us think that back pain is something that won't happen "until later." It is this thinking that finds most of us flat on our back after having pulled a muscle.
Acute lower back pain is actually a very different problem than chronic low back pain. Acute lower back pain is most often caused by a individual event or situation. This situation is often easily remembered by the person who has been struck down by it. The most typical situations to cause acute lower back pain are heavy lifting, falling or accidents. It occurs most often in the lumbar region of the back and can come from a number of specific places in the back. These specific places include the ligaments that surround the spine, the muscles located in the lower back, the bones of the spine, the discs that are located between the back�s vertebrae, the skin that covers the lower back, and even the organs in the abdomen and the pelvis.
If you have been struck with acute lower back pain, the good news is that you will get better. It will just take a little bit of time. The most important part of the healing process is to let your back get some rest. You will want to avoid any sort of lifting and extreme exercise. That being said, you will want to move around a little bit. Completely immobilizing yourself will only stunt the recovery process. Over the counter medicines like ibuprofen and naprosyn can also help. These drugs will help to alleviate pain and inflammation. Of course if you suffer from stomach problems, you might be better served with acetaminophen.
If the acute lower back pain you experience is accompanied by pain, numbness or weakness in any of your extremities (your calves and feet in particular), you will want to see your doctor. Any sort of bladder or bowel control loss is cause for immediate concern and you should rush yourself to the nearest hospital. Numbness and a loss of control over your bodily functions are usually a sign of serious medical conditions.
Of course there are a number of things you can do to help prevent acute lower back pain. You can do simple abdominal exercises like crunches and strength training. Swimming is ideal. Of course, going for a brisk walk certainly won�t hurt. Make sure that you practice proper posture, even when you are just lounging around. Stress can also lead to acute lower back pain. Try to relax! You will also want to use the correct moving and lifting techniques. As it turns out there was something to it when people used to shout out, "lift with your knees, not with your back! The knees, not the back!"
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #1
Back pain is one of the most common forms of bodily pain. It is estimated that eight in ten people will be affected by back pain. Amazingly, back pain is one of the easiest injuries to prevent. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #2
Believe it or not, cigarette smoking can increase a person�s risk of developing lower back pain and sciatica. What�s more, smoking can prolong the healing process which means that back injuries, surgery and bones will cause pain for a longer period of time. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #3
The best thing a person can do to keep his or her back healthy is to get regular exercise. In addition to a few muscle specific exercises that can be found by way of a simple web search, it has been proven that exercises geared toward balance and strength (like yoga) can help a person decrease his or her risk of falling and causing injury to the back muscles. |
