Lumbago is the Latin term for “lower back pain.” Lumbago is an extremely common medical condition, affecting millions of people every year. In fact, at some point in their lives, Lumbago affects 80% of adults.
Some patients describe a dull, sharp or even aching pain. Most often, the pain is minimal and can go away within a few days. Occasionally, lower back pain can be the result of a sports injury or trauma. In more chronic cases, Lumbago may be the result of a more serious medical condition.
The intensity of pain in Lumbago can either be mild or severe and the condition may last for a few days or can continue even for months. In the majority of cases, the pain also radiates down to the pelvis as well as upper legs.
What Are the Stages of Lumbago?
Mainly, Lumbago can be classified into three stages:
- Acute Lumbago: In this stage, the pain lasts for about three to four weeks. The condition may cause mild discomfort and difficulty in performing daily chores.
- Sub-Acute Lumbago: This stage persists for more than four weeks till about three months. It is important to visit an orthopedic physician to treat Lumbago at this stage before it deteriorates further.
- Chronic Lumbago: Low back pain that lingers on for more than three months can be termed as chronic. It can be caused due to multiple conditions and may require a thorough treatment plan to be cured completely.
What Are the Symptoms Associated With Lumbago?
Patients who experience Lumbago in the Lone Star State often describe symptoms which include but are not limited to:
- Stiffness
- Aching
- Soreness to touch
- Muscle spasms
- Pain that radiates down the leg
- Difficulty sitting and walking
- Mild or severe pain in the lower back that may radiate to the back of the thigh, buttocks and the groin area
- Pain increases while moving or bending
- Postural changes, the patient may slant to one side
- A tingling and numbing sensation in the back, legs and buttocks
- Curvature in the spine
Although lumbago is extremely common, physicians note how important an exam from a reputable back or pain specialist is in identifying the proper causes of your lower back pain. Commonly, imaging and MRI are utilized to determine the cause of the lower back pain in case the pain may be a symptom of a larger issue.
What Are the Causes of Lumbago?
Diagnosing the source of your lower back pain is critical to determining the proper course of care. In general, the overall cause of Lumbago can be difficult to determine because lower back pain can be caused by several factors. Additionally, lumbago can be the result of a hip or pelvic condition. Fortunately, with specialists of every orthopedic part of the body, OrthoTexas can assess your situation and ensure you are seeing the proper specialist for your condition.
For acute cases of Lumbago, the most common reasons are the overuse of the lower back, predominantly from lifting heavy loads.
Additional causes of Lumbago include but are not limited to:
- Herniated disc
- Compression of spinal nerves – Spinal Stenosis
- Scoliosis
- Osteoporosis
- Spinal tumors (benign or malignant)
- Facet Joint Dysfunction – Diagnosed with a Medial Branch Block
- Lordosis
- Muscle, ligament or tendon injury
- Overstressing the body
- Poor posture
- Excessive weight
- Skeletal damage
- Joint damage
- Pregnancy
- Spinal Arthritis
- Gynecological Problems
How Is Lumbago Treated?
Having Lumbago can be debilitating and extremely frustrating. Luckily, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, OrthoTexas has extensive experience treating this condition. Through a myriad of medical modalities, both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialists (PM&R) and Orthopedic Spine Surgeons, our providers will utilize nonoperative and conservative treatments first, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatories or steroid injections. Or if necessary, surgical interventions to relieve your pain.
Rest: Taking proper rest is very effective to treat acute Lumbago. This allows the stressed muscles to relax and restore their normal range of motion. However, resting for more than a few days may lead to the weakening of the muscles and aggravate the pain.
Heat and ice packs: Applying ice or hot packs also helps to reduce inflammation in the lower back.
Medications: The orthopedic doctor may also prescribe certain over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain.
Exercises: Certain stretching and strengthening exercises can also help to increase the flexibility of the spine, thus, reducing the chances of pain. Surgery may be recommended as a treatment option only in severe or chronic Lumbago.
OrthoTexas provides surgical as well as non-surgical treatment for all stages of Lumbago.
Your path to recovery starts here. Schedule an appointment with OrthoTexas or find a location near you.