Low Back Pain

By Author: joe swails
Total Articles: 29
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What is low back pain?
Low back pain (also known as lumbago) can affect anyone and is the most common reason why people take time off work through sickness each year in the UK.

Low back pain is most common in people between the ages of 35 and 55.

Symptoms
Symptoms of low back pain include:

a constant, nagging pain in the low back area that fails to ease even after lying down or resting

an aching in the back – particularly in the area between the lower ribs and the top of the legs

shooting pains from your low back to your chest, higher back and shoulder area

thigh pains

shin pains, and

an occasional numbness or tingling down the back of the legs

Causes
Low back pain can be caused by:

a fall

an injury

a slipped disk in the back

spine disease (such as arthritis)

muscle tears

abnormal curvature of the spine

All these can occur due to simple things, such as: being overweight, standing in the wrong position, sitting in the wrong type of chair (e.g., for long periods at a computer desk), frequently changing ...
... types of chair throughout the course of a working day, lifting objects in the wrong way and putting an unnatural strain on your back, and lifting or carrying your children.

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and are not experiencing any improvement then make an appointment to see your GP. After taking your medical history, he or she will ask you some questions about your symptoms and then examine your affected area(s). A referral for an X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan or blood tests may be made if your symptoms persist for more than six weeks.

Effect on your life
Low back pain can contribute toward the development of other health problems, such as: fever, loss of bladder and bowel control, and inflammation or swelling in the back.

You will also find it difficult to do normal everyday tasks, such as: carrying shopping bags, washing the car, vacuum cleaning, and standing at a cooker to prepare a meal. This is because of the stiffness in the back and the inability to bend your back properly. You may also experience shooting pains down the back of your legs when attempting to perform tasks due to pressure put upon your nerves when a disc prolapses, causing sciatica.

Treatment
Each person’s experience of low back pain is particular to them. And although the condition can be extremely painful as well as debilitating and inconvenient, most cases of low back pain clear up quite quickly. Remaining as active as possible and continuing to do normal activities (as best you can) is usually recommended for low back pain to ‘work its way out’, as lying in bed and waiting for the symptoms to ease and eventually disappear is rarely successful, and, in fact, can exacerbate symptoms.

Treatments for low back pain can include:

painkillers at definite intervals (full strength Paracetamol, for example)

an anti-inflammatory painkiller, such as Ibuprofen

a prescribed muscle relaxant, such as diazepam

a prescribed painkiller, such as morphine or tramadol

applying hot (and cold) compresses to the low back

spinal manipulation treatment from a chiropractor, physiotherapist or osteopath

acupuncture

massage

herbal remedies, and

surgery (as a last resort)

Note: If you suffer from asthma, high blood pressure, kidney failure or heart failure, do not take anti-inflammatory drugs without consulting a healthcare professional first.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have available to buy a range of treatments that can help relieve the symptoms of low back pain, such as: Paracetamol Soluble Tablets and Anadin Paracetamol Tablets which provide fast, effective relief and can help you to carry out your normal everyday activities.

www.chemistonline.co.uk

Advice & Support
BackCare
BackCare – The Charity for Healthier Backs
16 Elmtree Road
Teddington
TW11 8ST

Tel: 0845 130 2704
Website: www.backcare.org.uk
E-mail: enquiry form here

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
14 Bedford Row
London WC1R 4ED
Website: www.csp.org.uk
E-mail: contact form here

This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.