Generality
Acute low back pain is pain in the lumbar area of the back, which appears abruptly and suddenly and whose duration generally does not exceed 6 weeks.
Acute low back pain recognizes various causes; in most cases, an injury to the muscles or ligaments belonging to the back is due; more rarely, it is the result of a vertebral fracture, a vertebral tumor, a disc hernia, vertebral stenosis, sciatica, cruralgia, pregnancy, spondylodiscitis, etc.
Very often, the presence of acute low back pain is associated with other symptoms, such as stiffness, difficulty in movement and tingling.
As a rule, for the diagnosis of acute low back pain and the recognition of its triggering cause, the physical examination and anamnesis are sufficient.
Acute low back pain requires the use of causal therapy; only through the management of the triggering factor, in fact, it is possible to achieve healing.
What is acute low back pain?
Acute low back pain is the medical expression that describes any pain affecting the lumbar area of the back, which occurs abruptly and suddenly, and whose duration does not exceed 6 weeks.
Acute low back pain, therefore, is a sudden painful condition, which affects the lower back (the so-called lumbar area) and which can be maintained for up to a little over a month.
Acute low back pain is an example of back pain and is a very common condition; many people, in fact, can tell of having suffered at least once in their life.
Acute low back pain and chronic low back pain: the differences
Acute low back pain is opposed to chronic low back pain .
With the term "chronic low back pain", doctors mean any pain affecting the lumbar area of the back, which appears gradually and lasts for at least 12 weeks.
The pain that characterizes chronic low back pain is less intense than the pain felt in the presence of acute low back pain; however, as reported earlier, it is definitely more durable over time.
Meaning of Acute Lumbago
The term "acute low back pain" refers to all the main features of the condition to which it refers; in medicine, in fact, " lombo " is the word that indicates the lumbar area of the back, " algia " is the term used to indicate any painful state and, finally, "acute" is the adjective used to describe the conditions at onset abrupt and sudden.
Causes
Also known as the back, the back is the anatomical section that begins at the base of the posterior tract of the neck and ends at the level of the buttocks; the back includes:
- Bones . The bones of the back are the shoulder blades and the vertebrae that make up the spine. It is important to point out that between each vertebra there is a fibrocartilaginous structure, called an intervertebral disk, which acts as a shock absorber;
- Joints and ligaments . It is the joints and ligaments that join the vertebrae together and, at the same time, ensure these bones a certain mobility;
- Muscles . The back muscles are essential for the movement of the shoulders, upper limbs, rib cage and spine;
- Spinal cord and spinal nerves . The spinal cord is contained within the vertebrae column; the spinal nerves originate from it, subsequently going to be distributed in various parts of the human body.
Acute low back pain recognizes various causes .
In most cases, it is due to an injury of the muscles and / or ligaments of the back (contracture, stretching or tearing), following excessive physical effort; less commonly, it is related to:
- Vertebral fractures . Vertebral fractures are usually the result of accidental falls on the back or the effects of osteoporosis;
- Vertebral tumors (ie dependent on a vertebra). Vertebral tumors are examples of bone tumors;
- Herniated disc . It is the medical term that indicates the escape, from an intervertebral disc, of the gelatinous substance contained inside and called pulp nucleus ;
- Sciatalgia (or sciatica ). It is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which generally originates from the compression or irritation of the nerve roots in question.
When sciatica is combined with back pain in the lumbar region, it is also called lumbosciatalgia ;
- Cruralgia . It is the inflammation of the crural nerve, which usually originates from the compression or irritation of the aforementioned nerve roots;
Cruralgia combined with back pain along the lumbar tract is also called lombocruralgia ;
- Spinal stenosis along the lumbar spine. With spinal stenosis, doctors intend the pathological narrowing of a portion of the vertebral canal (or spinal canal), that is the channel present inside the vertebral column and intended to house the spinal cord;
- Spinal anomalies, such as scoliosis or hypercyphosis ;
- Arthritis of the spine. Arthritis is the medical term that describes the inflammation of one or more joints. There are various forms of arthritis; among these, the most common are arthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis ;
- Infections of the spine . These infections can affect the vertebrae ( spondylitis ), the intervertebral discs ( discite ) or both ( spondylodiscite );
- Kidney stones or kidney infections ;
- State of pregnancy ;
- Diseases of the female genital system, such as endometriosis, ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids ;
- Sacroiliitis . It is the inflammation of the sacroiliac joint (or sacroiliac joint). The sacroiliac joint is the even joint element, which connects the sacrum to the iliac bone;
- Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm . This situation represents a medical emergency, so those who are victims need immediate care.
Did you know that ...
The lumbar area is the part of the back most subject to muscle or ligament injuries; this happens because it is the back stretch that is designed to support most of the weight of the body and the loads that an individual may have to lift.
Who is more at risk of acute low back pain?
Anyone can suffer from acute low back pain, especially acute low back pain resulting from muscle problems or back ligaments; however, statistics on the frequency of acute low back pain testify that this painful condition of the lumbar back is more common among:
- Who practices sport;
- Who practices a job that foresees the repeated lifting of loads;
- Overly sedentary people;
- Individuals involved in automobile accidents;
- Seniors.
Did you know that ...
In the United States, acute low back pain and chronic low back pain are the second most common reason that people require a medical appointment; before them, there is only the flu.
Symptoms and Complications
Very often, the pain that characterizes acute low back pain is associated with other symptoms, including:
- Lumbar stiffness ;
- Tingling or burning at the lumbar level;
- Difficulty of movement, even if minimal, due to the increase in pain.
Furthermore, depending on the cause, the patient can also feel:
- Pain, tingling and / or feeling of weakness in a thigh, a leg and / or a foot;
- Lameness;
- Loss of control of the anal or bladder sphincter;
- Temperature;
- Weight loss for no reason.
Characteristics of pain
The pain related to acute low back pain can be piercing, burning or dull; moreover, it can be continuous or alternate phases of great intensity with phases of apparent remission.
Complications
The possible complications that may result from acute low back pain depend on the causes triggering the painful condition.
In the most common cases of acute low back pain (so when the cause of the pain is a muscle injury or tendon), the possible complications consist in: an important inability to perform movements with the back, such that even the simplest activities are impossible, and in a state of low moodiness / humor, consequent to the incapacity just mentioned and described.
When should I go to the doctor?
In the presence of acute low back pain, contact a doctor if:
- The pain is very strong and debilitating;
- Pain does not diminish despite rest (it could be indicative of a more serious condition than a muscle injury or ligaments);
- The patient has fever (this could be a sign of an ongoing infection);
- The patient has lameness and / or loss of control of the anal or bladder sphincter (it could be a sign of a neurological cause, such as sciatica);
- The patient is subject to a loss of weight without reason (it could be an indication of the presence of a neoplasm).
Diagnosis
In general, an accurate physical examination and a scrupulous medical history are sufficient for the diagnosis of acute low back pain and the recognition of the underlying cause.
However, if the physical examination and anamnesis are not enough for a definitive diagnosis, it is necessary to resort to instrumental tests on the vertebral column, such as X-rays, MRI or, in some situations, even CT .
Objective examination and medical history
For those complaining of a form of acute low back pain, the physical examination consists of an accurate check of the back, during which the doctor asks the patient to indicate the precise location of the pain and to describe the movements that accentuate this sensation; the anamnesis, on the other hand, provides a series of questions aimed at clarifying the possible event that triggered the painful condition, the patient's general state of health and the patient's past medical history.
Instrumental tests: what can we identify?
Tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or CT on the spine are useful for the diagnosis of acute low back pain due to: vertebral tumors, scoliosis, hypercifosis, herniated disc, spondylitis, discitis, spondylodiscitis, spinal stenosis, arthritis, etc.
Therapy
The therapy of acute low back pain varies in relation to the causes triggering the painful condition.
The presence of acute low back pain, therefore, requires a causal treatment, that is aimed at contrasting the causal factor (this explains why, during the diagnosis, it is important to go back to the reasons for the pain).
Therapy in the most common cases
Considering that in most cases acute low back pain is due to a muscle injury or ligaments, it is worth dedicating an in-depth study to the treatment envisaged in these situations; the therapy in question provides:
- Rest from any activity that may accentuate the pain. The rest serves the muscles / ligaments to recover from the injury that hit them;
- Application of ice on the most painful area, repeated from 4 to 5 times a day, for a period of time between 15 and 20 minutes per pack;
- Taking anti - inflammatories, such as NSAIDs (eg: ibuprofen) or paracetamol;
- Adoption of correct postures, when in a sitting or bed position. This guarantees a faster recovery from injury.
Did you know that ...
In bed, the ideal positions for the back are:
- On his back, with a pillow under his knees;
- On one side, with the knees bent towards the chest and the chin facing down.
WHAT TO DO IF THE PAIN IS PERSISTED?
If the pain persists despite the rest and remedies mentioned above, your doctor may advise:
- Therapies, such as laser therapy, ultrasound or tecar therapy ;
- A cycle of physiotherapy sessions, including manipulations, stretching exercises and muscle strengthening.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH RECOVERY?
After recovery from acute low back pain due to a muscle or ligament injury, the return to physical activity, even the most trivial (such as raising objects that are not very heavy from the ground), must be gradual and take place in an extremely cautious manner.
The risk that anyone who does not follow the indication of a gradual recovery is at risk of injury again, further prolonging the healing time.
Therapy in less common situations
When the cause of acute low back pain is a condition other than a muscle or ligament injury, possible therapeutic approaches include surgery, antibiotic therapy, postural gymnastics and a specific physiotherapy treatment program.
Prevention
To prevent the most common forms of acute low back pain, doctors recommend:
- Use your body properly, while lifting weights, and avoid excessive back torsions. There are numerous online guides that teach how to lift a weight without burdening the spine.
- Maintain a correct posture, especially in a sitting position, so as not to alter the normal anatomy of the spine.
- Exercise regularly, because inactivity is an important and established factor predisposing to muscle and joint injuries.
Prognosis
The prognosis in the presence of acute low back pain depends on the triggering cause of the pain.
With this in mind, the forms of acute low back pain due to muscle or ligament injuries (therefore the most common forms) are usually resolved within 2 weeks and, only in rare situations, within a maximum of 4-6 weeks .
Clearly, for a faster recovery from the most common forms of acute low back pain it is essential to follow the treatment plan indicated by the doctor.
