On a recent Facebook group ‘conversation’, I happened to come across a post from a woman asking for medical and treatment advice for her husband’s back problems.

After more than 30 years in the health industry, and having treated and helped thousands of people from around the world to live lives that are free from pain, I was intimately familiar with the subject. However, there were still some great takeaways about the pain management questions and the many different pieces of advice given by well-meaning readers that people in general can learn a lot from.

The quote above comes from the dictionary (of clothing) designed to fit people of a wide range of sizes,and this stuck in my mind long after the conversation on social media had ended.

Lower back pain is one of the most common problems people have. Back pain can have a great impact in the quality of life, and the costs of medical care and loss of productivity can be also high.

What Causes It?

Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of problems, but is usually caused by an injury, such as strain from lifting, twisting, or bending with any part of the complex, interconnected network of spinal muscles, nerves, bones, discs or tendons in the lumbar spine. Typical causes of lower back pain include:

• The large nerve roots in lower back that lead to the legs may be irritated

• The smaller nerves that supply the lower back may be irritated

• The large, paired lower back muscles may be strained

• The bones, ligaments or joints may be damaged

• An intervertebral disc may be degenerating

Symptoms

Symptoms of lower back pain may include:

• Tenderness, pain, and stiffness in the lower back

• Pain that spreads into the buttocks or legs

• Having a hard time standing up or standing in one position for a long time

• Discomfort while sitting

• Weak and tired legs while walking

Most back pain can be prevented by keeping your back muscles strong and flexible, making sure you practice good mechanics, and having your body checked and maintained to prevent injuries, such as muscle sprains, tears and inflammation.

Treatment

In many cases, back pain will get better with self-care. While lower back pain is extremely common, the symptoms and severity of lower back pain vary greatly. It is, therefore, mandatory to perform individual treatment of back pain. If your pain doesn’t get better within a reasonable period of time, you might want to see your doctor or other registered health practitioners, such as:

• Orthopaedic specialist

• Chiropractor

• Osteopath

• Nutritionist

• Homeopath

• Acupuncturist

• Traditional Chinese medicine

• Complementary and alternative therapies

Identifying the symptoms and getting a diagnosis that pinpoints the underlying cause of the pain is paramount in obtaining effective pain relief.

A pain-free life is just one connection away. Book an appointment with Else Vistisen

_{This post was first published on Else Vistisen's LinkedIn and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit: male entrepreneur from Shutterstock}

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