Lumbago

Most common form of low back pain

Suddenly, in a certain movement, a severe pain hits your lower back. Or, due to acute low back pain, you can hardly get out of your bed. Chances are you’re having lumbago, as doctors call this condition. Lumbago is fun for no one. However, the complaints are usually transient. In addition, you can do a lot of effort to prevent and correct spit.

What is lumbago?


Lumbago is a collective name for low back pain, which is undefinable. Thus, a hernia or arthritis of the spinal cord does not play a role in this condition. Therefore, lumbago is called a-specific back pain. Lumbago is caused by cramping of the spinal muscles. As a result, the cooperation of the joints in the lower back is disturbed. A pain develops that can extend to the upper legs. Lumbago is the most common form of low back pain. It is also the least serious form.

What is the cause of lumbago?

Because the pain often suddenly develops in the lower back, it is often thought that the problem arises at that time, which is however not true. Lumbago develops long before the pain becomes evident. When you took newspaper from the door mat this morning or lifted a crate of beer from the back of your car, the limit was reached. Your body has attempted to compensate for overload by wrong bending and turning movements, posture and sitting position as long as possible. At a certain point, the overload becomes too much and a sprain of the back muscles develops: lumbago.

What are the symptoms of lumbago?

The main symptom is an acute pain in the lower part of the back. This can be so fierce that people lower the legs or even faint. The pain is felt centrally and can move left or right after a while. Also, the pain may radiate to legs or buttocks. In addition, there is a sore pain in the back. Certain movements can lead to a new, sharp punch of pain.

How is lumbago diagnosed?

The GP will first ask a number of questions to exclude other conditions, such as a hernia. Thus, he will want to know more about the location of the pain, when the symptoms have started, how long they last, and whether the pain radiates to other parts of the body. Then a physical examination follows. For example, he will look at how you walk, to the exact location of the pain and to the effect on the pain if you make certain movements. When the GP does not find other causes for your low back problems, he will diagnose ‘normal’ low back pain or a-specific backache. Usually he will name the disorder “lumbago”. However, this is not an official diagnosis because this is the collective name for all low back pain that have no apparent reason.

How is lumbago treated?

In accordance with the guidelines for GPs and physiotherapists, lumbago will not be treated during the first six weeks. In most cases, the symptoms will disappear. The damaged muscle tissue will recover quickly, usually within one to two weeks. However, the duration of the healing process can differ from patient to patient. Sometimes the GP will prescribe a muscle relaxant to reduce the pain. You can take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen yourself. The combination of these painkillers also works very well with lumbago. In addition, it is important for the recovery process to stay in motion. Otherwise, the symptoms will only get worse. Keep your muscles flexible by walking, cycling or swimming. If the back pain is still present after six weeks, make a new appointment with your GP. A referral to a physiotherapist or chiropractor may then be necessary.
A study in Brussels revealed that natural treatment with Liquid Green-Lipped Mussel and Bio-Curcumin can also help in low back problems.

What can you do to treat lumbago yourself?

Keep your back warm with warm clothes, a jug or a hot shower. Prevent bumps, sudden movements, heavy objects lifting and other activities that are harmful to the back. Do not play sports for the first week. Improve your posture: Sit upright against the chair and do not lower it.

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