Lumbago Symptoms and Treatment

By Edyta Monika Jambor

Lumbago simply means "pain in the lower back region" which may be acute (spontaneous, lasting for less than 6 weeks), sub-acute (lasting from 6 weeks to 3 months) or chronic (if present for more than 3 months). There may be mild to moderate discomfort in the lower back region which may lead to pain and stiffness in the subsequent days. It gets resolved with the proper care and management, but sometimes it's persistent and affects the quality of life very badly.
It's evident in individuals of every age group and race but particularly affects young adults more as they are more active physically and later, in elder population. About 80% of the world population experiences this problem.
SYMPTOMs:
Individuals suffering from lower back pain may be having the following symptom/s:

• Pain - In the lower part of the back which may radiate to the gluteal (buttock) region, back of thigh or to the lower leg. In most of the cases pain gets worsened with movement.
• Movement restrictions - Especially bending forward and backward.
• Stiffness - In para-spinal (adjacent to spine) muscles causing discomfort and movement restrictions.
• Numbness in the back, buttocks or in the leg.
• Tingling sensations - In the back region, buttocks, or in the leg.
• Postural changes - With irregular spinal curves. This postural anomaly occurs due body's instinctive behavior to pain.

Extra Notes:

1. If the pain is accompanied by numbness and/or tingling sensations which is radiating into the leg and/or foot, it is called "Sciatica". This happens due to sciatic nerve irritation, which is passing all the way from lower back to the foot.


2. These conditions are rare but may accompany severe lumbago: weakness in the legs, weight loss, swelling in above mentioned areas, urine problems and/or fever.

TREATMENT:
There are many ways to treat lower back pain. Unfortunately the traditional commonly used methods treat only symptoms for temporary relief; they don't really work on the actual cause of the pain. Here are:

• Pharmaceutical prescriptions (painkillers like paracetamol, NSAIDs, steroids etc. and/or muscle relaxants) to alleviate pain.
• Osteopathic or chiropractic treatments like spinal manipulations.
• Heat over painful areas through hot packs, swimming in the warm water pools etc.
• Using firm and flat surface for lying/sleeping.
• Avoidance of movements which may elevate the pain level especially bending and lifting heavy loads.
• Acupuncture and acupressure techniques are also helpful.
• Posture adjustment and ergonomic modifications to avoid extra stress on spine.
• Massage is also useful in some cases.

The most effective way to treat spondylosis; trapped nerve (sciatica); muscle and/or joint pain; slipped disc; and back or neck pain is the "McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)". As recently in Oct 2014 a research study conducted on 271 patients in Kosovo found MDT more useful and effective than other electro-physical agents (EPAs). The method has fast acting and long-lasting effects on patients' health. Moreover, it has NO side effects which may occur with other treatment strategies. This is because, this method helps your physician to find out what is the exact cause of your problem and allows to apply the 1-2 exercise patterns which are best suitable for your specific condition.
At first, detailed history of the person is taken and patient is tested functionally and mechanically by recording the body's response to different movements and positions. The treatment strategy is then planned on the basis of findings recorded and the person is advised to maintain certain posture and perform specific exercises at home and office. Every person is also advised to follow some interventional guidelines to avoid future problems. This prevention plan is based on your body's symptomatic behavior that was recorded previously on your first assessment. This is very important because back pain tends to recur after a long duration of time so it's important for the patient to be educated in how to avoid future pain episodes.

The accurate and precise diagnosis allows the physician to treat the person perfectly according to his/her particular condition. Therefore, every person using the McKenzie Method is treated exclusively according to his/her underlying specific problem as every person has a different underlying pathology for lumbago. McKenzie method allows therapist to identify the underlying cause and its nature on the spot and uses different techniques to fix the root of the problem. This results in fastest and longer lasting treatment results. This method is very special as it eliminates the other expensive diagnostic tests and the diagnosis & treatment is carried out by the same therapist. Unlike other methods MDT allows you to manage and control your pain on the permanent basis.

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Visit a Med Spa for a Day of Pampering or As Part of Your Health Care Plan

By Abigail Aaronson

Visiting a med spa can rejuvenate and revitalize both your body and mind. Facilities offer different services to suit the varied needs of men and women of all ages. Whether you have pain problems, need skin treatments, seek nutrition counseling, or want to jump-start a weight loss program, a spa visit may be just the thing for you. Consider the different treatments available.
Pain Treatments
Some facilities may offer services that treat pain in the knees, back, neck, and other problem areas. While this should not be considered a replacement for a regular doctor visit, most locations do have experts on hand that can help you with more minor issues such as knee joint pain, back pain, and neck pain. Some of the remedies may include the following.
- Viscosupplementation therapy. In this procedure, a gel-like liquid is injected into a joint, such as the knee. This injection supplements the existing joint synovial fluid, which serves as a lubricant, allowing bones to move more freely. This type of procedure has been very helpful for osteoarthritis pain.

- Knee braces. Special braces may be all some people need to help with their aching knee joints. They are designed specifically to offload pressure in key areas that cause you pain upon sitting or walking.
- Spinal decompression. Some facilities may offer non-surgical spinal decompression therapy to treat conditions such as herniated disks, sciatica, disk degeneration, spinal stenosis, and more. You may also find this treatment beneficial if your back problems are causing numbness in the hands or arms.
- Chiropractic adjustments. These may be available from a certified chiropractic professional or through the use of an adjustment machine. A chiropractic adjustment machine can help diagnose the problem areas in your spine and target treatment to those areas.
Aesthetic Benefits
You may want to visit the med spa simply for relaxation. Many businesses will offer a range of skin treatments meant to help you de-stress and feel energized.
- Facial treatments. A med spa may have their own line of skin care products, or they may use commonly known brands. You will choose from a variety of facials that are designed for deep cleaning, rejuvenating, brightening, or simply refreshing your skin. You may also want to enjoy a facial peel, which has more exfoliation characteristics and cleans at a deeper level than regular treatments.
- Problem skin. No matter your age, you may have some problem areas with your skin. It may be brown spots, wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, breakouts, or large pores. Specific treatments are available to address issues such as these, allowing for clearer, smoother, and more evenly toned skin.
Nutrition and Weight Loss
The staff at a med spa can help you get into a healthy lifestyle pattern by providing nutrition counseling and specific weight loss treatments designed to jump start or supplement your overall health plan. A professional team may help you identify the right tools and resources for your particular goals, and they can also help you stay on track.

- Body wraps. These options are a great way to see some quick results. They increase the blood flow through the lymphatic and circulatory systems, which helps cleanse the surrounding tissue. Most treatments advertise that you can lose a certain amount of inches or clothing sizes, since the treatment provides for cellulite reduction. The loss stays with you as long as you keep up healthy lifestyle habits.
- Light therapy. Some facilities offer light therapy, which targets the lipolysis in fat cells, causing fatty acids to be broken down and released. This strengthens the collagen in your skin to make it look toned and tightened.
A med spa can be a relaxing time for the occasional visit or a valuable partner in your overall health care regimen. Look for facilities that offer the services most suited to your own needs.

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