In an article that appeared in the Sundays Zaman, Dr. Kadriye Öneş, from the Istanbul Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Hospital, says: “People need to prevent this sort of pain from becoming chronic. Treating chronic lower back pain is actually more difficult and quite different from treating acute lower back pain.” Lower back pain is a health problem encountered by people of all ages at some point in their lives and one that needs to be taken seriously before it progresses to advanced stages.
Lower back pain must be taken seriously as it may be an indicator of a slipped disc or other conditions that may require surgery. The medical condition known as acute lower back pain generally has a sudden onset, and the patient then usually feels better from a few days to one or two months. Of these, around 40 percent of people have a reoccurrence of acute lower back pain within the same year.
Öneş notes that what is most important is to prevent lower back pain from becoming chronic. She notes that acute lower back pain generally responds to a couple of days of bed rest combined with appropriate medication.
On the other hand, chronic lower back pain requires medication, special exercises, physical therapy and a review of a patient’s emotional and psychological state. Öneş says that 50 percent of patients with lower back pain often feel better in the first week of treatment, while 90 percent see an improvement over the next two to three months. “People can take very simple precautions to prevent this pain from occurring again,” she says.
Cigarettes and alcohol can be factors
Patients with lower back pain need to visit a doctor to get help in determining the reason for the pain. Usually, lower back pain is rooted in problems involving the muscular-skeletal system. Other reasons for lower back pain can be infections or lesions, which is why an exact diagnosis is important in these situations. Generally, most people assume that a sudden jolt or lifting too heavy a load are the only reasons for lower back pain; most people never even consider the role played by cigarettes or alcohol.
While it is true that lifting heavy loads, staying for too long in one position or even sitting for extended periods in the same position are important risk factors in lower back pain, Öneş also points to cigarette and alcohol use as factors in episodes of lower back pain. For example, the ingredients contained in cigarettes can lead to a narrowing of the arteries, which in turn leads to decreased blood circulation, which can lead to lower back pain.
Exercises tailored to the individual
Maintaining a correct posture and keeping your weight at a reasonable level are important in terms of not putting extra pressure on your lower back. Says Öneş, “It is very important that individuals are given special exercises tailored to their personal lower back muscular strength, their biomechanics and the initial reason for their pain.”
She also notes that each individual requires a personalized examination and have exercises prescribed based on the outcome of these examinations. Exercises assigned without tailoring to the unique needs of the individual could do more harm than good, she warns.
This is why it is crucial for patients experiencing lower back pain to seek professional treatment and attend physical therapy and rehabilitation centers. Öneş notes that patients, based on medical advise from their doctor, should also walk three to four times a week to help strengthen their muscles and help keep their weight under control.
Preventing lower back pain
People need to be aware of the things they can do to avoid back pain: When carrying something heavy, carry the load close to the body and try to share the weight evenly between both hands; bend from the knees when picking something up from the ground (rather than bending from the waist); try to avoid turning or moving suddenly when sitting; try not to stretch beyond your capacity when reaching for something on a high shelf; and when sitting, keep your posture straight and firm.