---
title: "Lower back pain: Your questions answered, from lumbago to coronal planes"
description: Your questions answered about lower back pain, from lumbago to coronal planes
---

[Health Hippo Blog](https://blog.thehealthhippo.com/blog)

# [Lower back pain: Your questions answered, from lumbago to coronal planes](https://blog.thehealthhippo.com/blog/lower-back-pain-your-questions-answered-from-lumbago-to-coronal-planes)

 Written by [The Health Hippo Team](https://blog.thehealthhippo.com/blog/author/the-health-hippo-team) | Mar 18, 2020 10:47:00 PM

###### Based on analysis of web traffic, the most common questions that people ask about lower back pain (also known as lumbago) are:

- ###### How do I know if my back pain is serious?
- ###### What can I do to relieve my lower back pain?
- ###### What causes lower back pain?
- ###### 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](https://thehealthhippo.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/).

### 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.

 

###### So, there you have it. Your most common questions answered, briefly. Take 10 minutes and get right to-the-point complete information about lower back pain, including diagnosis, causes, treatment, and what to expect [here](https://thehealthhippo.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/).

[View full post](https://blog.thehealthhippo.com/blog/lower-back-pain-your-questions-answered-from-lumbago-to-coronal-planes)

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