Overview
Low back pain is a common painful condition that is encountered both in general and specialist practice.Low back pain causes a great deal of suffering and is the most common cause of disability during the working years of life. Low back pain may manifest as back pain or back pain associated with leg pain (sciatica).Signs and Symptoms
Back pain may be worse with bending and lifting, Sitting may worsen pain, Standing and walking may worsen pain, Pain may extend from the back into the buttock or outer hip area, Sciatica:pain that radiates to the legsCommon Causes
Muscle soreness due to overactivity, Ligament overstretched or injured, Vertebral disk injury: tear or herniation, Degeneration spondylolisthesis, Spinal stenosis, Scoliosis, Vascular arterial disease, TumourRisk Factors
Increasing age, Overweight, Improper body posture, Improper lifting, Smoking, Occupation: requires standing/sitting for a long time, Family history of malignancyInvestigation Techniques
Physical examination, Neurological examination, Lumbosacral spine X-ray, MRI, Nerve conduction test if suspected involvement of nerve, Bone scanTreatment and Prevention
Medical treatment: pain management by giving appropriate analgesics, muscle relaxants Surgical treatment if indicated: spinal fusion in severe degeneration or scoliosis, disk replacement Physical therapy: lumbar braces, heat and ice packs, massage, chiropractic, traction, physiotherapy
