Low back pain
Low back pain
The low back pain (or lumbago) is one of the most prevalent disorders in Western countries, to the point of being one of the main causes of medical consultation and absence from work. Virtually everybody suffers from low back pain at least once in their lives, men and women, for the most diverse reasons.
Main causes of low back pain
The first episodes of low back pain can occur as early as the age of 30, especially among those who practice sport or work activities that heavily involve the back, and are mostly caused by direct traumas or "mechanical" factors that abnormally strain muscles, tendons, ligaments or vertebral structures (a sudden movement, overloading, excessive use, etc.). In these cases, generally, more or less intense lumbar back pain occurs suddenly, during movement, and is considered to be "acute", as it tends to resolve completely within 1-4 weeks.
Especially after 45-50 years of age (but not infrequently even before), a frequent cause of low back pain is also the keeping of non-ideal postures, standing or sitting, for many hours a day, generally for professional reasons (employees, taxi drivers/drivers, hairdressers, shop assistants etc.). In these cases, if the cause is not corrected, low back pain can become a "chronic" companion, that is present for periods longer than 3 months or characterized by periodic exacerbations.
Causing low back pain are especially muscle contractures, alterations of vertebral structures (intervertebral discs, capsules or articular surfaces damaged by arthrosis) or inflammation of spinal nerves (particularly the sciatic nerve that innervates the buttock and the back of the leg). In women of child-bearing age, the most common source of lumbar back pain is pregnancy.
Other less frequent causes of low back pain include: changes in the curvature of the spine (scoliosis), misalignment/dislocation of the vertebrae (spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis), rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing or psoriatic spondylitis, etc.), vertebral fractures from osteoporosis, infections, hematological diseases and, rarely, neoplasms (multiple myeloma, osteosarcomas, vertebral metastases of other tumors etc.).
Lumbar back pain can also be due to "reported" pain, that is not related to back problems but to the abdominal organs. Low back pain of this type can be due to cystitis, prostatitis, stones or kidney diseases, endometriosis, pancreatic or intestinal diseases, aneurysm of the aorta, etc.
What to do against low back pain?
Considering the innumerable possible causes at the origin of low back pain, before intervening in any way to try to placate it is essential to understand why it arose. Generally, this is quite simple when the onset of lumbar back pain is linked to a sudden movement or a contracture, while a more gradual onset and/or not clearly referable to a precise phenomenon must always lead to consult the doctor.
In addition to the visit and the clinical anamnesis, in order to frame the low back pain the doctor may (sometimes) prescribe blood tests, a spine X-ray, a CT scan or an MRI scan, as well as a visit and/or some tests of neurological functions, if there is any suspicion of problems affecting the spinal nerves (usually indicated by the presence of pain, tingling and/or loss of strength in the legs and feet, problems of incontinence, etc. ).The therapy will depend on the outcome of these assessments and may be very different from case to case.
It must be said, however, that very often, despite extensive investigations, the exact cause of lumbar back pain remains unknown and the only thing that can be done is to try to alleviate the symptoms: that is, the pain and the limitation in the movements. In this regard, it should be known that rest is not a solution at all. Experts recommend limiting it to 1 to 3 days, trying to gradually resume the usual activities as soon as the low back pain becomes bearable.
To mitigate the pain associated with low back pain and facilitate movement (considered "therapeutic"), in the first instance you can take Spididol® (tablets or granules), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) based on ibuprofen arginine salt, which has an effective anti-inflammatory/analgesic action against lumbar back pain.
It is important to take this medicine following the instructions on the package insert or provided by your doctor in relation to your case.
If your low back pain is moderate, you can try Spididol Care®, a medicated patch with natural extracts of arnica, devil's claw, spirea, willow, horse chestnut and currant, with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant properties.
You only have to apply it to clean, dry skin and leave it on for 24 hours.
Other useful interventions against a "mechanical" low back pain, of an undefined type or related to muscular or vertebral arthritis problems, include: application of cold packs in the first 48-72 hours from the onset of pain and hot packs in the period following; physiotherapy; massages or spinal manipulation; yoga or other relaxation techniques (in case of contractures); reduction of body weight (if in excess); postural re-education; quitting smoking.
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