Based on analysis of web traffic, the most common questions that people ask about lower back pain (also known as lumbago) are:
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How do I know if my back pain is serious?
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What can I do to relieve my lower back pain?
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What causes lower back pain?
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What causes lower back pain in a woman?
As a quick aside, the top resource on WebMD when you search that site for “lower back pain” is a resource called, “The Pain of Ankylosing Spondylitis” and “When Kidney Cancer Spreads To Your Bones.” Alarmist, much? On this site, symptoms of lower-back pain are described as “self-inflicted” due to a lifetime of bad habits. The discussion includes nine “red flags” of a serious problem (all but one of which have been discredited). WebMD indicates that doctors “generally” use imaging tests for assessing pain including X-rays, an MRI or CT scan, and an electromyogram (EMG). In fact, as you can learn on Health Hippo, imaging tests are generally not reflective of the standard of care for lower back pain.
So, let’s get to some brief answers to your questions about lower back pain, all of which are further detailed here.
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
While there are several considerations for seriousness of back pain that are part of a physical evaluation, the single “red flag” risk factor associated with serious lower back pain is a history of cancer. Fewer than 1% of lower back pain is categorized as serious.
What can I do to relieve my lower back pain?
A thorough physical evaluation considers the movement of the spine through three planes of motion: the coronal (frontal) plane, the sagittal plane, and the transverse plane. Presuming that your pain is determined to be “nonspecific,” which is the case for 90% of lower back pain, the most important single action is to remain active, with the support of good education about self-care. Pain is best managed with superficial heat and the brief use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen on a combined dosage. On Health Hippo, you will find a decision tree to help guide more specific decisions about treatment along with a dozen options for exercise / physical therapy options that can be beneficial. Importantly, there is an even longer series of treatments identified on Health Hippo that have been proven to be ineffective.
What causes lower back pain?
Risk factors include obesity, smoking (due to the impact of nicotine on blood flow), and age.
What causes lower back pain in a woman?
Women have a higher incidence of lower back pain, however, they share the same risk factors as noted in the prior question.
