Covenant Family Practice - Acute Low Back Pain

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Acute Low Back Pain

Written by Robert A Wilson

Sunday, 11 February 2007

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Acute Low Back Pain
What your doctor can do
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Acute low back pain has many possible causes but the most common is muscle strain. Pain can start immediately after a specific event, such as twisting, or bending over at the waist; or it may not start until several hours later. In some cases pain can occur for no apparent reason. At times the symptoms become a cycle of events: muscle spasm which causes pain, which results in more muscle spasm. Besides muscle strain, possible causes include a ruptured disk, osteoporosis, spondylosis (hardening and stiffening of the spinal column), nerve dysfunction, infections, or injury due to a fall or a blow. In most cases, low back pain goes away in a few days and nearly all cases of low back pain are resolved within 4 weeks. Risk increases with sedentary occupations; obesity; poor posture and muscle tone; poor general physical fitness; strenuous, infrequent physical activity such as occasional sports participation or yard work; use of poor body mechanics, such as poor lifting techniques; and wearing high heel shoes.

Symptoms may include:

Pain
Stiffness
Numbness, weakness, or problems with coordination

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