Lower Back Pain

What Is Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain is a common, nonspecific condition that can affect individuals of all ages. It often starts as a mild, nagging ache and can sometimes escalate into severe, debilitating pain. While it can be uncomfortable and disruptive, with appropriate care and treatment, most cases of lower back pain can be effectively managed and even resolved.

Understanding Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain refers to an ache or pain in the bottom part of the spine. The intensity may range from mild to severe, and sometimes, aches along with stiffness, numbness, or tingling feelings. The causes of lower back pain are widespread and involve a professional diagnosis through a doctor's visit to understand how proper diagnoses and treatments can be established.

Aster Clinic is one of the best medical care institutions in the Middle East. The institution has made a great mark through an all-out approach towards the quality of patient care it renders. Experienced healthcare professionals and infrastructure at Aster Clinic provide comprehensive care for lower back pain and other health conditions.

Bad posture and muscle strain are just a few causes, among a host of others, including underlying health conditions. Although lower back pain can be very debilitating and frustrating, effective ways do exist to manage and relieve it.

Symptoms and Causes of Lower Back Pain

Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is mainly found in both sexes. Nevertheless, there are some differences found in lower back pain causes between males and females. Women are more prone to suffer from this symptom than men because they go through various changes caused by hormones, pregnancies, and childbirth.

The reason behind lower back pain in women lies in hormone changes that affect ligaments in the spine, which can increase susceptibility to injury. Pregnancy causes downward pressure that affects the lower back.

It can result from heavy lifting, sports injuries, and occupational hazards that result in lower back pain in men. Such backaches most often result from strenuous activities that are not pre-war or done improperly.

The following are the different symptoms and manifestations among different patients: 

• Severe Pain: The most common symptom that occurs in almost all stages is a dull or sharp ache in the lower back.
• Stiffness: Difficulty in comfortably moving the lower part of the back or stiffness in the morning.
• Muscle Spasms: Sudden, involuntary contraction of muscles in the back.
• Spread to Other Body Regions: The pain might run down to the buttocks or thighs.
• Numbness or Pricking: There might be numbness or even pricking sensations in the legs or feet.
• Inability to walk or stand: It may cause the person to be unable to walk or even stand upright.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain can be due to a variety of factors, including:

• Muscle Strain or Sprain: Strains or sprains of muscles and ligaments in the lower back usually result from movement that is overexerted or has happened too quickly.
• Herniated Disc: When the soft, gel-like substance inside of a spinal disc bulges out or ruptures, it can put pressure on nerves in the area, causing pain.
• Arthritis: The most common types of joint degenerative diseases are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which include inflammation in the lower back that causes pain.
• Spinal Stenosis: This is the intrusion of the nerves due to the narrowing of the spinal canal.
• Kidney Stones: These are very painful, and many people suffer the spasms to radiate to the groin or abdomen.
• Osteoporosis: This is the thinning of the bones, which means that there will be fractures that would make one experience a lot of lower back pains.
• Infection: Infections of the spine, for example, discitis or osteomyelitis.
• Emotional Stress: It tends to cause tension in the muscles and aches in the lower back.

Risk Factors for Lower Back Pain

Several factors increase the risk of low back pain. All these tend to increase with age because the spine degenerates naturally over time. Risk factors:

• Obesity: The extra weight puts additional stress on the lower back.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: For many, too much time spent in a seated position will be the source of at least some pain as inactive muscles of the lower back can lose their strength and stiffness.
• Heavy Lifting or Strenuous Work: Jobs that involve heavy lifting or repetitive motion can enhance the risk of lower back injury.
• Smoking: It accelerates the degeneration of the spine and increases the risk of osteoporosis.
• Poor Posture: Holding the body in an incorrect position while sitting, standing, or sleeping can cause a strain on the muscles in your back.
• Underlying Medical Condition: Some health-related conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, increase susceptibility to lower back pain.
• Family History: You are at a higher risk if your first-degree relatives have a history of lower back pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Back Pain

At Aster Clinics, a dedicated healthcare professional will be present to cater to all your needs regarding lower back pain. We also emphasise that the first step to effective lower back pain treatment is diagnosing the root cause of this condition.

Our state-of-the-art facilities, along with advanced diagnostic techniques, enable us to determine the source of your discomfort and devise a treatment plan accordingly.

Diagnosis for lower back pain typically involves a medical history, physical examination, and some diagnostic tests:

Medical History

Our doctors will listen carefully to your symptoms, including the location, duration, intensity of the pain, and any associated symptoms like numbness or tingling. They will also question your medical history, family history, and recent activities.

Physical Examination

You will undergo a complete physical examination to establish your range of motion, muscle strength, and reflexes. Our doctors may, at their discretion, check tenderness or swelling in the lower back.

Diagnostic Tests

Our doctors order some of these tests depending on the suspected cause of your lower back pain:

• X-Rays: They can show the bones and joints of the spinal cord. This can show fractures, arthritis, etc.
• CT Scan: A CT scan offers an image with a high resolution of the bones of the spinal cord along with muscles and tissues.
• MRI: It is through an MRI scan that various images of the spinal cord, nerves, and surrounding tissues are revealed using magnetic fields and radio waves.
• Bone Scan: The doctor can use a bone scan to determine if there is some abnormality in the bones—maybe a fracture or an infection.
• Nerve Conduction Studies: These studies check on the speed at which impulses traverse along the nerves. They can help diagnose nerve damage.

Procedures and Treatments at Aster Clinics

What Are the Treatments for Lower Back Pain?

The treatment for lower back pain can only be determined by the cause or causes of the condition and, in this case, the severity of the symptoms experienced. Our doctors will then exercise caution while diagnosing your case before recommending the appropriate treatment options.
Some of the most common lower back pain treatments include:

Conservative Treatments

• Rest: Resting helps in lowering inflammation, healing the back muscles, and further helping the patient to relieve stress and tension from the rigid back muscles.
• Physical Therapy: A physiotherapist may provide you with some exercises and lower back pain stretches which strengthen your back muscles, make you more flexible, and correct any postural issue that may be causing the problem.
• Pain Medications: Over-the-counter pain medications, such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), will help to alleviate any pain and, in some cases, reduce inflammation. In very rare cases, prescription pain medication might be necessary.
• Heat or Cold Therapy: Heat or cold is applied to the affected area to soothe the pain and inflammation.
• Massage Therapy: It may involve massaging the affected muscles to relax them and improve blood flow in the affected area.

Invasive Interventions

If the conservative treatments are not sufficient, our doctors may prescribe a more invasive procedure, such as:

• Corticosteroid Injections: Giving corticosteroids may decrease inflammation and pain.
• Facet Joint Injections: These injections are administered directly into the facet joints—the tiny joints in the spine.
• Corticosteroids: They are administered epidurally, injecting corticosteroids into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord.
• Surgery: This includes different types of surgery for conditions such as disc rupture, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease.

Prevention of Lower Back Pain at Aster Clinics

How Can Lower Back Pain Be Prevented?

• Maintain Healthy Weight: The excess weight increases more stress on your back.
• Strengthen Your Back Muscles: Regular exercise helps in strengthening muscles, which can provide support for your back.
• Good Posture: Observe your posture while sitting, standing and lifting. Avoid slouching with a neutral spine.
• Ergonomic Workspace: Ensure that your workplace is an ergonomically designed place that serves to reduce the stress that falls on your back.

When to Consult a Doctor for Lower Back Pain?

If you experience persistent or severe lower back pain, it's essential to consult a medical professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Here are key signs that warrant medical attention:

• Numbness or Tingling: Sensations of numbness or tingling in your legs or toes could indicate nerve issues and prompt medical help is important.
• Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control: This can be a sign of significant nerve damage and requires immediate medical attention.
• Fever: Accompanied by back pain, this could indicate an infection such as discitis or osteomyelitis.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden, unexplained weight loss along with back pain may be associated with more serious conditions like cancer, necessitating prompt consultation with a healthcare provider.

Why Choose Aster Clinics for Lower Back Pain Conditions?

The individualised care and management for patients suffering from lower back pain form the focus of Aster Clinics.

Here's why Aster Clinics is a preferred choice for treating and managing your back pain:

• Experienced Health Professionals: Our doctors and specialists diagnose and treat lower back pain disorders. We have the knowledge and skill sets to provide you with personalised care that is tailored to your needs and requirements.
• Well-Equipped Facilities: All our clinics have modern diagnostic equipment and state-of-the-art treatment facilities, ensuring the best service.
• Pain Management: A holistic approach to lower back pain management considers both your physical and psychological well-being. So, our treatment plans may vary from purely medical interventions to therapies involving physical activity and lifestyle modification.
• Patient-centered care: Your comfort and well-being are our priority throughout your treatment. Caring, supportive staff and devoted care are essential.
• Convenient Locations: Aster Clinics has strategically located convenient locations across the Middle East that will make it easy for you to access our service.