Lower back pain can make even mundane tasks challenging. At least 80% of the population deals with it at some point in their lives, though older individuals are the most susceptible due to age-related body changes. If this type of pain is interfering with your life, use the following guide to learn more about what to do.

What to Know About Lower Back Pain

Causes

Lower back pain can have many causes, ranging from temporary injuries to spinal and joint conditions. Muscle and ligament strains from lifting heavy objects or engaging in other intense physical activities can also cause pain in the lower back. Office workers and other individuals who sit for hours at a time can experience pain due to poor posture, such as when slouching forward or leaning back excessively.

Sitting exacerbates conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. Sciatica puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, creating back and leg pain, while herniated discs and degenerative disc disease result from injury and wear on the spinal discs, respectively. Spinal stenosis causes the spinal column to narrow, putting pressure on the spinal nerves and cord.

Treatment

Your ideal treatment plan will correlate to the root cause of the issue. If the problem doesn’t subside after 72 hours of home care using the RICE protocol of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, see a chiropractor. Most back pain treatment plans use a combination of physical therapy, medication, massage, and stretching.

Medical appliances, such as braces, may also be helpful. If the pain is due to a spinal issue that’s causing nerve damage and bowel control loss, there are also surgical options, such as discectomy, spinal fusion, and nucleoplasty.

Prevention

The best way to prevent back pain is with a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise that conditions and strengthens the abdominal and back muscles will help prevent injuries, as will maintaining a healthy posture that keeps the spinal column in the proper position.

Other preventive measures include avoiding high-heeled shoes and lifting heavy objects with the legs. Quitting unhealthy habits, such as smoking, is beneficial as well, as nicotine interferes with healthy blood flow and promotes spinal disc degeneration. 

If you have lower back pain, don’t wait to seek treatment. Schedule an appointment at Cornhusker Chiropractic PC. This chiropractic care center has served Lincoln, NE, and the surrounding areas since 1995. Offering honest, effective, affordable care, these chiropractors provide a variety of non-invasive pain management services. Call (402) 466-1288 today to make an appointment, or visit them online for treatment details. Get more health and wellness tips on Facebook.