Early sign of arthritis that's a pain in the backside

From irishnews.com

Too often lower backache is put down to sciatica - and the long delay in diagnosis can lead to permanent damage

AS a hotel chef often on his feet for 10 hours a day, and a keen rugby player, Gareth Dwyer put the constant ache in his buttocks down to his work and lifestyle.

"I played rugby as a prop - pushing against the full weight of the opposing team's scrum - so I thought the pain was just wear and tear from being very active," says 42-year-old Gareth.

"When I was walking, though, I was hunching over like a turtle and the pain could radiate into my hips - the only way I'd get any relief was to put my hands behind my back and press my palms together like Prince Charles does, which my wife took the mickey out of me for."

The backside aches had affected him since his late 20s, and at times were severe enough to wake him in the early hours, but he ploughed on.

It wasn't until the age of 35, when he fell down some steps and fractured his spine, that Gareth learned his aching buttocks were a sign of a form of inflammatory arthritis.

His X-ray and MRI scans showed that the bones in the joints, which join the lower spine to the pelvis, were fused and inflamed.

Gareth also had a positive blood test for the HLA-B27 gene, which predisposes people to developing inflammatory arthritis. This confirmed that Gareth had axial spondyloarthritis (or axial SpA), a form of arthritis that affects the spine and sacroiliac joints.

Back pain that radiates into the hips is usually caused by sciatica but can also be a form of inflammatory arthritis

An estimated 220,000 people in the UK are thought to have axial SpA. It can run in families, and possible triggers for those with a genetic predisposition include infections, stress and trauma.

The conditions that fall under the umbrella include non-radiographic axial SpA (where these joints become inflamed, but this is not visible on an X-ray).

In some cases this can progress to radiographic axial SpA (also known as ankylosing spondylitis), where inflammation causes extra bone to grow, leading to the fusion of vertebrae in the spine.

As well as affecting the ability to do everyday things, including bending, it can impact breathing if the ribcage is affected and the lungs can't expand enough. The inflammation also causes pain and fatigue, and walking can be hard.

Not everyone with axial SpA develops spinal fusion - risk factors include smoking and testing positive for the HLA-B27 gene - but treating symptoms early may help prevent the progression.

Gareth's delayed diagnosis meant that his symptoms had already advanced to those of radiographic axial SpA.

"My posture was affected because of the weakness in my sacroiliac joints, as they couldn't support my spine," he says.

Buttock pain that lasts longer than three months is one of the common symptoms of axial SpA, says Dr Raj Sengupta, a consultant rheumatologist at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath.

"With axial SpA the main joints involved are the sacroiliac joints, which are over the top of the buttocks, and it's inflammation in these joints that is one of the key features," says Dr Sengupta, who is also a medical adviser for the National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) charity.

"The buttock pain radiates from the joints and can alternate from one side to the other - this is a classic sign of axial SpA - or just stay on one or both sides.

"The problem with buttock pain is that it's often confused with sciatica, a common condition caused by irritation of one of the two sciatic nerves that come out of the spinal cord," he explains.

"Sciatica causes pain and tingling in the buttock and radiates down the leg to the feet, but with axial SpA, if you get the buttock pain, it won't radiate right the way down the leg and past the knee.

"Some people are told they have sciatica when they actually have inflammation of the sacroiliac joints caused by axial SpA."

Some people are told they have sciatica when they actually have inflammation of the sacroiliac joints caused by axial spondyloarthritis

Dr Sengupta says this is one of the reasons why it takes eight-and-a-half years to get a diagnosis on average.

"It's heartbreaking as a rheumatologist to see patients in a clinic who have experienced back pain for years and the cause has been put down to sports injuries or work," he says.

"I'll see up to five of these patients a week. The pain often first occurs when someone is in their 20s, when they are building relationships and a career, and they are left struggling with symptoms.

"This may lead to mental health problems, as well as more damage to their spine."

Another warning sign is back pain lasting more than three months that starts before the age of 40 - back pain that starts after 40 is more likely to be caused by wear and tear - including pain in the lower back that wakes you in the early hours.

One theory for this is that levels of cytokines, compounds that cause inflammation, peak at night. A further warning sign is morning joint stiffness that doesn't wear off after half an hour, but improves with movement and not rest.

Now the charity NASS has launched a campaign to encourage anyone under the age of 40 living with this kind of persistent back pain to see their GP to check if it's axial SpA.

"It's a race against time with axial SpA," says Dr Dale Webb, chief executive at NASS, explaining that the risk of serious and irreversible damage rises the longer someone goes without treatment.

"The good news is that, with the right treatment and care, people can live very well with axial SpA."

Axial SpA is typically treated with biologic drugs that switch off inflammation, says Dr Sengupta.

"These have been around for more than 20 years and were approved to treat axial SpA [in the UK] in 2008. There is a definite halting of progression of the disease with these drugs. This is why it's so important that we diagnose patients as early as possible, identify those who are most likely to progress and treat them appropriately," he says.

Following his diagnosis, Gareth was put on diazepam and the opioid tramadol to help with pain, but within two years he was needing higher and higher doses to keep the pain in check.

He was switched to biologic drugs three-and-a-half years ago and says their effects have been "transformative".

"I now inject myself with a pre-loaded jab once a week and it's been life-changing," says Gareth.

"I've been able to come off diazepam completely and greatly reduce my tramadol dose. It's also let me carry on working as a chef - at one point I thought I'd have to give up as the pain was so bad.

"I use walking poles to keep me upright and improve my breathing. But I can now walk with my hands by my side instead of held behind my back, and I can also be an active dad to my son, and lift him up and play ball games with him - things I had feared I'd never be able to do.

"What scares me, though, is that but for the accident, I could have gone on like that for years, while all the time my spine could have been degenerating.

"I just wish I'd known that pain in your backside can be a sign of a progressive illness and shouldn't be ignored, and then I might not have suffered permanent damage to my joints."

nass.co.uk   © Daily Mail

https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/health/2021/11/01/news/early-sign-of-arthritis-that-s-a-pain-in-the-backside-2461832/

Managing back pain

From businessdailyafrica.com

Back pain is a common problem that affects 4 out of 5 of us at some point. Back pain can be acute, where the pain starts quickly but then reduces after a few days or weeks, or chronic, where pain might last on and off for several weeks or even months and years. Here are many questions that many patients present with.

                   3D Illustration of sacral and cervical pain medical concept. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK

What could be causing my back pain?

Back pain is often caused by a simple muscle, tendon, or ligament strain and is not usually a serious problem. Most often, the pain can be due to a range of factors, including poor posture, lack of exercise resulting in stiffening of the spine, and muscle strains or sprains. Apart from the factors listed above, there are also specific conditions that are associated with pain.

What other conditions can cause back pain?

Spondylosis

As we grow older, the discs in the spine become thinner and the spaces between the vertebrae become narrower. Spurs of bone (osteophytes) may form at the edges of the vertebrae and facet joints. This is called spondylosis. All of us will have some of these changes in our spine as we grow older, but they are not painful.

Sciatica

Back pain is sometimes associated with pain in the legs, and there may be numbness or a tingling feeling. This is called sciatica and is caused by irritation or squeezing of one of the spinal nerves (called the sciatic nerve). For most people who develop sciatica, leg pain tends to be the most troublesome symptom and they may not have back pain at all.

Pain travels down the leg because of the irritation of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar spine, but there’s nothing wrong with the leg itself.

In most cases, the reason for the nerve irritation is a bulging disc. Discs are designed to bulge but sometimes a bulge can ‘catch’ on the sciatic nerve roots causing pain that travels all down the leg to the foot. Sciatica is fairly uncommon and fortunately, most people recover quickly, although in some cases it might take many months. About 60 percent of people with sciatica get better within a few weeks to months.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is back pain associated with pain in the legs which starts after a few minutes walk and tends to get better very quickly when you sit down. This can happen from birth or develop as we get older.

Symptoms often affect both legs but one may be worse than the other. Some people have less discomfort if they walk a little stooped. Like sciatica, the main problem tends to be leg pain more than back pain.

In most cases, neither sciatica nor spinal stenosis is a cause for alarm, but if the symptoms cause you a lot of trouble and greatly affect your quality of life, then you should consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor about my back pain?

If your pain is very severe or lasts for a long time and if the pain affects your everyday activities.

How can I manage my back pain?

Painkillers

Simple painkillers such as paracetamol may help. You should use them only when you need them, especially when you are having a flare-up of your back pain, but you should not take them more often than every 4 hours up to a maximum of eight tablets in 24 hours.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

You can use painkillers and NSAIDs for a short course of treatment of about a week to 10 days. If they have no effect after this time, then they are unlikely to work. However, if they do help but the pain returns when you stop taking them, you can try another short course. You can also try rubbing anti-inflammatory creams or gels on the affected areas.

Exercise

Exercise is the most important way that you can help yourself if you have back pain. Research shows that bed rest for more than a couple of days does not help back pain and in the long-term makes it worse as the muscles in your back become weak and you become less fit.

—Exercise also releases endorphins —your body’s natural painkillers.

—Exercise might make your back feel a bit sore at first but it does not cause any harm.

— Start slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do. You can also try taking some painkillers before the exercises. Over time, your back will get stronger and more flexible and this should reduce pain.

More often, people stop exercising once their back pain has cleared up, but it’s best to keep up with the exercise to maintain strength and fitness as this will help to reduce the chances of your back pain returning. Exercises that may help include Swimming, walking, yoga, and gym exercises.

Posture

Try to maintain good posture when sitting at home, at work, or in the car. Staying in awkward positions for instance while working or driving, will affect the soft tissues in your back and will increase your pain or slow down your recovery.

Lifting correctly

Learning to lift correctly is important to help prevent further episodes of back pain. Avoid heavy lifting if you can. Bend your knees when lifting and allow your spine to move as necessary, without twisting it, try and split loads between both hands and keep the weight close to your body.

Diet and nutrition

There are no special diets that have been shown either to help or prevent back pain. However, if you’re overweight you should consider changing your diet and doing regular exercise to help you lose weight as this will reduce the strain on your back.

Pain management programmes

These programmes may help you control your pain and teach you how to live with chronic pain. They’re usually outpatient sessions and involve learning about the physical and psychological factors that can contribute to pain and what you can do to overcome them.

Dr Otieno is a consultant rheumatologist at Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/health-fitness/managing-back-pain-3591312

How you can find relief from sciatic pain

From lifestyle.livemint.com

By Pulasta Dhar

Compressing the sciatic nerve, can cause intense pain in your back, buttocks or legs, especially when working out. Here's what you should do 

The longest nerve in the body starts at the lower back and reaches all the way to the foot. It is a mixed nerve, meaning it has both motor and sensory fibres, which allows you to feel and utilise the lower limbs. It helps movement, lifting, climbing, and even standing. It’s called the sciatic nerve, and when it gets impinged or irritated, it can lead to any or all of the following: pain, tingling sensations along the course of the nerve, stiffness, and immobility. 

Sciatic nerve pain is unique in the way it runs down the back of the buttocks, hamstrings, calf, and in severe cases, all the way to the foot. This pain is not muscular, and is most usually the nerve is being unnaturally stretched due to another issue in your posterior chain. A few days ago, I was performing a set of heavy squats. I just knew that I shouldn’t have attempted the last rep of that move, because it triggered sciatic pain for me. So I deep dived into the causes, the anatomical effects of the nerve, and ways to recover from this injury. The most important thing I needed to find out, however, was whether this pain meant that I was suffering from sciatica. 

While sciatic pain can be very unique, it is uncommon for it to happen in both legs at the same time—which is what I had. After consulting a couple of physiotherapists, it became clear that a muscle spasm deep in the posterior chain can also cause the same kind of irritation that sciatica will. It was exactly like what Adriene of Yoga With Adriene said in one of her YouTube video (see below) on sciatic pain relief: “Remember that sciatica is mostly a symptom of something else (in the posterior chain).”

Identifying the point of origin of the pain is a big step in how you treat this: any attempts I had made at sciatic correction stretches would be only temporary, since, for me, it did not originate in my lower back. Instead, I could feel the origin more in my buttock: which explained why I wanted to sit in pigeon pose all the time! 

A spine-health.com article titled Is My Pain Sciatica or Something Else? gives an ominous but important reminder on the importance of diagnosis: “A lumbar herniated disc and lumbar stenosis can cause similar sciatica symptoms; however, physical therapy for each condition can be different—while bending forward at the waist may be comfortable if you have spinal stenosis, it can cause increased pain if you have a lumbar herniated disc.”

One of my physios asked me to get my piriformis muscle checked, which eventually turned out to be the cause of the sciatic pain (which is why all the other stretches I was doing didn’t help). This is called piriformis syndrome which is sciatica’s sly henchman when it comes to pain. 

“While both conditions interfere with sciatic nerve function, sciatica results from spinal dysfunction such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Piriformis syndrome, on the other hand, occurs when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock, compresses the sciatic nerve,” writes Choll W. Kim in a spineuniverse.com article. She is a spine specialist and associate clinical professor at the department of orthopaedic surgery at the University of California San Diego.

If you have a fitness routine, chances are you may have piriformis syndrome over sciatica, because the former is caused more by inflammation of the soft tissues, or a muscle spasm that might compress the nerve which runs down the back of the leg. Long distance running, prolonged standing and sitting without stretching, and even an imbalance of muscles which have been overloaded and tightened over time may cause the same kind of symptoms as sciatica.

Which brings us to the treatment for both these conditions. Sciatic pain relief is more immediate and can be dealt with when following a daily stretching routine. Most medical experts I spoke with say that sciatica usually goes away at a younger age with rest and pain relief exercises which allow the nerve impingement to ease. But any sciatic pain that refuses to go away could be piriformis syndrome, which will need a more careful assessment to find out why the muscle is tight in the first place.  

My treatment has and continues to include releasing the muscle spasm using cupping along, hot packs and a manual release done by the therapist. It has included a focus on training the core and the glute so that both sides of the body take an equal load (one side of the body being weaker than the other is not unusual), and a series of physiotherapy exercises to stretch and strengthen. 

There are ways to avoid sciatic pain from either a herniated disc or piriformis syndrome. Maintaining a good posture and reducing sitting hours are high on the priority list. When it comes to lifting weights, do so with a slight bend in the knees and a straight back. Focus on core and balance exercises. And lastly, choose a sleeping position and surface that doesn’t put unnatural pressure on your lower back, because deep in its recesses lies a nerve that is as thick as a thumb at its widest, but can cause a ridiculous amount of pain.

Pulasta Dhar is a football commentator and writer.

https://lifestyle.livemint.com/health/fitness/how-you-can-find-relief-from-sciatic-pain-111634119426342.html

Why back pain is so common during pregnancy

From thestar.com.my

Experiencing back pain during pregnancy is common and is caused by many factors.

These factors – which are due to the anatomical, postural, vascular and hormonal changes that take place naturally during the course of pregnancy – tend to develop simultaneously and cause pain in the woman’s body.

Most of the time, pregnancy back pain is normal.

But you should still be aware of some causes of pregnancy back pain that may indicate a more serious situation. In fact, in some rare cases, they can be life-threatening.

Having an ergonomically-supported posture while sitting for extended periods can help decrease the frequency and intensity of back pain. — wavebreakmedia_micro/Freepik

How it begins

A pregnant woman will go through changes in the mechanics of her lower back, creating discomfort and making any existing conditions worse.

The types of back pain a pregnant woman can expect to experience are:

• Lower back pain
• Pelvic pain
• Thigh pain
• Back and hip pain
• Abdominal cramps

Some musculoskeletal causes of back pain during pregnancy are:

Widening of the pelvis

Higher oestrogen and relaxin hormone levels widen the pelvis.

This starts at the 10th or 12th week of pregnancy, causing the pelvis size to increase typically by about 10mm.

Muscles and soft tissues in the lower back are affected due this change in pelvis size, which can affect your gait and create pain while walking.

The pain can worsen in the later stages of pregnancy, extending to the thighs.

Laxity of joints and soft tissue

Concentrated levels of oestrogen also increase tissue and joint flexibility in the lower back.

This causes the sacroiliac joints to become lax, disrupting the stability of the pelvis.

Weight tends to shift from the spine to the legs when laxity occurs, and the loosening of joints can also affect posture.

Increasing size of the uterus

As your baby grows, so does the size of your uterus.

Your spine also begins to change in shape, particularly in the lower back area where it becomes noticeably curved.

Muscles that help stabilise the pelvis are shortened, increasing the curved shape and creating pain.

Aggravating factors

Severe back pain is one of the symptoms of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and is a medical emergency. — Filepic

Other causes of back pain during pregnancy include:

Neural

Peripheral nerves in the thigh and pelvis region may become stretched, compressed and lose their blood supply, making them a source of pain.

The swelling of soft tissue causes additional pressure on these nerves, causing pain in the thighs, lower back and pelvis.

Medical conditions like diabetes and obesity also increase the risk of peripheral nerve pain in the legs.

Herniated disc pain

Increased strain on the lower skeletal system affects the spinal discs and causes herniation.

The nearby nerve roots may be affected, resulting in sciatica symptoms that can move down the thighs, legs, and even to the feet.

It often affects one side of the body, and can become aggravated during pregnancy.

Weakened hip bone and joint

Some pregnant women may develop osteoporosis during their third trimester.

The reason why it occurs is still a mystery, but the symptoms usually appear gradually, affecting the tissues of the hip joint, which causes pain and limits movement.

Another condition that affects the hip region – avascular necrosis of the femoral head – may occur due to biological changes in pregnancy.

These changes include weight gain and high levels of natural steroids, which can affect the bone tissue in the top part of the thigh bone (femoral head), and cause groin and lower back pain.

Certain obstetrical conditions

Although uncommon, some obstetrical conditions like spontaneous abortion, ovarian cysts, pelvic or uterine adhesions, fibroids, or fluid collection, may cause lower back pain in pregnancy.

Ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Severe lower back and groin pain may occur when the fallopian tube ruptures due to an ectopic pregnancy.

This condition is a serious medical emergency and occurs in early pregnancy – typically within the first few weeks or first trimester.

Placenta location

In some pregnancies, the placenta is located near the posterior wall of the uterus, where it can potentially cause back pain.

Limited research indicates that a posterior placenta may also cause poor pregnancy outcomes and preterm labour.

Physical treatment

You may want to seek treatment for your pregnancy back pain if the condition worsens.

But treatment depends on the underlying causes, stage of pregnancy and other medical conditions.

You need to consult with the appropriate medical specialists to determine the right treatment.

They’ll evaluate posture, range of motion in the lower extremities, leg-length inequality, tendon reflexes, gait pattern, joint pain and the degree of curvature in the lower spine.

The options for treatment usually include postural correction or physical therapy.

In more serious cases, medical management and surgical intervention may be required.

Postural correction

One way to reduce a considerable amount of strain off the lower back is by maintaining an ergonomically-supported posture throughout the day.

Your doctor may advise you to reduce high impact activities, and perform stretches and exercises to build strength in the pelvis, hips and lower back.

Most women find sleeping on their side with additional supportive pillows the most comfortable during pregnancy.

Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs to elevate your knee to the same level as your hip can help to relieve back pain caused by pregnancy. — gpointstudio/Freepik

Place a pillow between your knees and ankles while sleeping.

This puts the top of the knee on the same level as the hip, thus reducing stress on the lower back.

You can support your upper arm by resting it on a vertical pillow in front of your abdomen and upper body.

To support your head and neck, try placing a small rolled-up towel inside the pillowcase.

Another tool that may be of help is a lumbar roll.

Placing this behind the small of the back to help support spinal curvature while sitting for extended periods can help decrease the frequency and intensity of back pain.

It may also help reduce the pelvic pain that occurs from a sit-to-stand position.

Get an inflatable lumbar roll to help accommodate the changes in body size and posture as the pregnancy progresses.

Physical therapy and exercise

Exercise and physical therapy involves stretching, movements to strengthen the back, and posture modifications.

Seeing a trained therapist can help pregnant women focus on the right set of exercises to strengthen soft tissues and muscles in the lumbar spine area.

Flexion exercises (bending forward) help make the abdominal muscles stronger, improve core strength and decrease the lumbar curve.

Extension exercises (bending backward) help increase strength in the paraspinal muscles that provide stability to the spine.

Low-impact exercise options include pelvic tilts, knee-to-chest stretch, straight leg raise, curl-ups, side-lying leg raise, and even Kegel exercises.

Heat therapy

Taking short breaks throughout the day from standing, moving, walking or sitting in a tensed position at a desk for long periods of time helps ease muscle spasms and relieves acute pain.

While sitting, keep both feet elevated to help bend the hips and decrease the curvature in the lower spine.

You can also use a heat patch in the lower back area or rear pelvis to further reduce soreness, decrease muscle spasms and improve blood circulation while resting.

The heat source must be used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and cannot be too hot.

Adding a barrier, such as a towel, is advisable to avoid burns.

Take drugs with caution

Drugs are not typically recommended for pregnant women right away.

Most are not safe for the foetus as they can cause developmental harm or death if taken.

Only a certain number of pain medications can be used during pregnancy.

But even these must be avoided in the first trimester, and are only safe to take in the second and third trimesters.

For pregnancy back pain and pelvic pain, paracetamol is considered relatively safe and used as a first-line drug.

For nerve pain, such as in sciatica or radiculopathy, anticonvulsants (gabapentin) or antidepressants (amitriptyline) may be prescribed with caution for short term use.

For debilitating or severe pain, opioid medications may be recommended, but the dosage and regimen are prescribed with caution to avoid opioid withdrawal in the newborn.

Always consult a physician before taking any medication while pregnant, including supplements, over-the-counter medication, ointments, and even inhalers.

Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a functional medicine practitioner. For further information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/womens-world/2021/10/18/why-back-pain-is-so-common-during-pregnancy

Lower Back Pain: Causes & Coping Tips

From www.hesperherald.com

Lower back pain has become a common health problem these days. According to the research, 4 out of 5 adults experience this medical condition at some point in life. It can become a serious health issue if left untreated. Hence, it is vital to determine the root cause of the lower backache and take appropriate measures to reduce it. There are several home remedies that you can try to overcome, but if they don’t work, the help of a specialist is required. Many people find orthopaedics treatment very helpful in this context. You can seek their help to get rid of chronic back pain. Apart from this, physiotherapists can also help to relieve any muscle or joint pain. However, they can’t perform surgery.

In this guide, we will discuss key causes of lower back pain as well as tips to alleviate it. So, without wasting any time, let’s go!

Causes Of Lower Back Pain

• Poor Sitting Posture

Do you remember the childhood days when your parents asked you to stand or sit straight? They were absolutely right as your back carries your weight most appropriately when you do not bend. Slouching and poor posture results in poor lumbar support that leads to severe pain. It is vital to correct your sitting posture to avoid backaches. Keep your shoulder back, take stool for footrest while working on the computer for long hours.

• Sciatica

The sciatica nerve acts as a connector between the spine and leg. If pressure is exerted on sciatica by a herniated disc, an unbearable pain occurs in the leg and feet. This pain gets worse while sitting, and you will feel hard to move your leg around. Carrying extra weight is the key cause of developing sciatica.

• Spinal Stenosis

Spinal Stenosis is another common reason for back pain. It occurs when the space within the spine starts narrowing down. It causes discomfort to the nerve roots that lead to multiple levels of lower back pain. In the worst case, spinal Stenosis results in numbness or paralysis. Hence, it is pivotal to detect its early symptoms and seek the best orthopaedic treatment.

• Spondylolisthesis

Many people who lift heavy weights or do intense exercise often become victims of Spondylolisthesis and experience shooting back pain. In this condition, one vertebra slips out of its place on the bone adjacent to it. To alleviate the symptoms of Spondylolisthesis, it is crucial to do exercises suggested by the orthopaedics or physiotherapist.

• Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a painful health condition that affects both men and women. However, it is more common in males before the age of 45, and after that, osteoarthritis is more common in females. This problem occurs when the bone’s joints tear over time. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it most commonly damages the Spine and Knees. This medical condition also causes extreme pain in the lower back.

• Ruptured disks

A ruptured disk is also called a herniated disk and is a serious health issue. It can occur anywhere in the spine but most commonly affect the lower part. Most of the people suffering from this problem recover within a week. But in extreme cases, surgical procedures are required.

• Muscles Strain

The excessive strain on back muscles and ligaments also leads to stiffness. Proper rest and workouts are required to cope with this problem. Many people also found physical therapy helps to deal with this condition.

Tips To Cope Lower Back Pain

• Maintain Right Sitting Posture

First of all, pay attention to your sitting posture. Avoid scorching and keep your back straight

• Use Ice & Heat Packs

To reduce the pain, you can use heat and cold therapy. It is one of the inexpensive options.

• Get Massage

Getting a massage with therapeutic oil is the best for coping with chronic pain.

• Do Yoga

Practice yoga for at least 30 minutes daily to eliminate the root cause of the pain. But take advice from the trainer before starting.

• Lose Extra Fats

Obesity can put a strain on the backbone; hence, it is important to lose extra kilos.

• Stop Smoking

Nicotine hinders the shipment of blood to the cushions of vertebrae and elevates the probability of backache. So, quit it right now.

The Bottom Line-:

We hope you find the above article interesting and consider the suggested tips to deal with the lower back problem.

https://www.hesperherald.com/health/1828/lower-back-pain-causes-coping-tips/