Lumbago: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Medically Reviewed By : Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS
Introduction
Lumbago?! Weird name I should say, but not a weird disease. There’s a saying in English, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, so just because the name is weird doesn’t mean the disease is also weird. ‘Lumbago’ simply means low back pain. It’s an outdated term so doctors tend to use more specific terms such as sciatica or spinal stenosis.
Now let’s discuss this in detail about lumbago in the following sections!
What is lumbago & what causes it?
Lumbago is not a specific disease or a diagnosis, it is a symptom of many different medical conditions. It’s a common condition involving muscles, nerves and bones of your back. It usually occurs when there is a problem with one or more parts of the lower back or sometimes due to nearby organs like kidneys.
Well….what exactly causes this condition?
As we all know, we spend most of our time sitting on office chairs and doing other activities like watching TV that results in lumbago– it is a general term for the symptom of low back pain.
Lumbago can have various causes and understanding them is important for effective treatment and prevention. Some of the most common causes of lumbago are as follows:
- Poor posture is one of the most common reasons why people have lower back aches. Standing with poor posture, staying bent forward and sitting for a longer time can strain your ligaments and muscles in the lower back, resulting in lumbago.
- Obesity is one of the reasons for lumbago since it can strain your lower back with excess weight.
- Overexerting muscles by doing repetitive actions, lifting heavy weights or improper lifting can lead to lower back aches. A lot of people complain that they can barely stand upright or move around, why? It’s because of overexertion.
- Injuries like falls, accidents or any sport-related injuries can lead to lumbago as it causes damage to your muscles, ligaments or spinal cord.
- Medical conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylosis, osteomyelitis etc. can lead to lumbago.
- Spinal abnormalities such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, tumours near the spine etc. can compress nerves which results in lumbago.
- Psychological factors like anxiety, stress, depression and other comorbidities like smoking can increase your back pain and make it difficult for you to manage.
Symptoms of lumbago:
The most obvious and painful symptom is low back pain. People with lumbago feel that it’s a slow and painful death. Well, it doesn’t get you killed but it makes you feel like it.
Consult a doctor if you have any of these lumbago symptoms:
- Numbness or tingling, especially in your legs
- Stiffness in the lower back
- Involuntary muscle contractions or spasms
- Inability to stand upright
- Inability to bend or reach out anything
Symptoms that can indicate a serious medical problem are:
There are times when back pain can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. You should consult your doctor if your back pain doesn’t go away for more than 2 weeks.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- The throbbing sensation of pain in the abdomen
- Fever
- Constant or intense pain that gets worse at night.
- Back pain after an accident or a fall.
If your doctor suspects a serious condition, then further examinations or tests will be carried out. They may include:
- CBP and urine tests to detect the underlying condition
- MRI or CT scan to check your discs, muscles, nerves and blood vessels.
- X-rays to check for broken bone or any displacement of bone.
- Electromyography (EMG) will be done to test nerve signals
- Bone scan to look for any abnormalities in the bone tissue.
Now that you learned more about lumbago/low back pain, the question is: what can you do to get rid of it? Let’s find it out!
How is lumbago treated?
Most of the cases are often treated with over-the-counter pain medications. These medications are mostly enough to treat lumbago. When it comes to severe cases, your doctor will recommend some stronger treatments for lumbago.
- All you need to do is rest when you have mild symptoms. It can relieve the pressure on your back and reduce the symptoms.
- Applying heat or ice packs can relieve the discomfort and help reduce the inflammation.
- Medications like over-the-counter NSAIDs which include Ibuprofen, naproxen; muscle relaxants; opioids and cortisone steroid injections can help relieve your symptoms.
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Physical therapy like daily stretches & strengthening exercises plays a key role in recovery. Strengthening exercises will help regain your muscle strength, improve range of motion and help restore balance.
Physical therapy is not a place you go, but rather something you do. If you want freedom from lower back pain, you need to do your best. - Topical rubs & ointments can be effective in reducing your back pain. For example, ointments, creams, gels, lotions and patches can be used to reduce the symptoms like inflammation, discomfort and pain caused by lumbago.
- Surgery is considered for those who haven’t responded to non-surgical treatment like medication and therapy. This option is considered for those who have nerve and spinal cord compression that limits their daily activities and people with structural abnormalities.
- Alternative treatments for lumbago include:
- Acupuncture
- Relaxation techniques
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Massage
Here’s how you can prevent lumbago:
- Say hello to good posture and exercising regularly can prevent backaches.
- Avoid doing improper heavy lifting.
- Do not sit for a longer time
- Avoid sleeping on your side with your legs drawn up.
- Keep moving in different ways and take breaks regularly.
- Engage in some stress-reducing activities like yoga and meditation.
- Do not add any unnecessary strain on your back or spine by carrying heavy bags, suitcases or purses.
- Wearing high-heeled shoes frequently can cause damage to your back.
- Back pain feels like the youth is leaving the body. So if you want to be healthy, take care of your spine/back first.
- Poor posture is one of the most common reasons why people have lower back aches. Standing with poor posture, staying bent forward and sitting for a longer time can strain your ligaments and muscles in the lower back, resulting in lumbago.
- Obesity is one of the reasons for lumbago since it can strain your lower back with excess weight.
- Overexerting muscles by doing repetitive actions, lifting heavy weights or improper lifting can lead to lower back aches. A lot of people complain that they can barely stand upright or move around, why? It’s because of overexertion.
- Injuries like falls, accidents or any sport-related injuries can lead to lumbago as it causes damage to your muscles, ligaments or spinal cord.
- Medical conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, spondylosis, osteomyelitis etc. can lead to lumbago.
- Spinal abnormalities such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, tumours near the spine etc. can compress nerves which results in lumbago.
- Psychological factors like anxiety, stress, depression and other comorbidities like smoking can increase your back pain and make it difficult for you to manage.
Don’t get laid back, instead fight back!
George Burns once said, “Love is a lot like a headache. It doesn’t show up on X-ray but you know it’s here”. If you want to be free from lumbago, you need to take action.
Lumbago is one of the most common conditions and the good news is that this condition can be treated effectively as there are treatments that can help get rid of it. Stretches and strengthening exercises are proven to help strengthen your muscles and reduce the pain caused by lumbago.
If you want to get back to your normal routine you must follow the instructions or suggestions given by your doctor. Only then, you will be able to recover and go back to your normal routine.
Some preventive measures can also be taken like yoga, daily stretches and strengthening exercises that will help make your back stronger and more resilient.