You probably think your backache is just part and parcel of a busy day at work or in the mall. But if you don't take action to treat your backache, it could get much worse, and could become a recurring back pain that gets harder and harder to prevent as time goes on. Backache symptoms to watch out for include a steady dull ache, a sharp acute pain and an aggravation of back pain symptoms every time you move.
What might have happened
If you want to get out of the backache rut, do not ignore your
backache symptoms, however brave you want to be. It is often difficult to pinpoint the root of low back pain, though poor muscle tone, joint problems, and torn muscles or ligaments are common causes. A herniated or slipped disc may also cause low back pain as well as sciatica, a condition where pain travels down one or both buttocks and legs.
Lower backache prevention
Regular exercise and proper lifting techniques help prevent lower back problems from developing. Proper lifting involves keeping an object close to the body and avoiding bending forwarding, reaching, and twisting while lifting. Low backaches and disc degeneration are both more likely to develop among sedentary people than those who are physically active.
Should you just hold on for the back pain ride?
Many people with lower backache recover without seeing a doctor or receiving
back pain treatment. Up to 90% recuperate within three to four weeks, though recurrences are common, and chronic low back pain develops in many people. Lower back pain is considered acute, or short-term, when it lasts for a few days up to many weeks. Chronic low back pain refers to any episode that lasts longer than three months.
Backache prevention
The low back supports most of the body's weight, and as a result, is susceptible to pain caused by injury or other problems. Over 80% of adults experience low back pain (LBP) sometime during their life. More than half will have a repeat episode. Standing or sitting for extended periods, wearing high heels, and being sedentary increase the risk of developing debilitating backache, as do obesity and back strain due to improper lifting. Up to half of pregnant women experience some low back pain. Long hours spent driving a car may contribute to a herniated disc. Kit your car out with back care equipment, such as a gel-filled back rest, for lower backache preventative action.
