LOWER back pain may be a result of muscle or nerve irritation or bone lesions. It is caused due to an injury or trauma to the back. In fact, there are number of causes behind lower back pain. The severity of the pain depends upon the type of low back pain. Axial back pain is one of the types of lower back pain.

Axial lower back pain could be mild or severe, dull or sharp which can be felt constantly or intermittently. Axial pain is usually mechanical and is characterized by the pain that gets worse with certain activities like sports, pain that gets worse with certain positions like sitting for long periods, pain that is relieved by rest. The area covered by this pain is the low back area. This pain does not travel or radiate in to other parts of the body.

Causes and symptoms

Low back pain is common among people world over. Still the research on the exact causes and symptoms of lower back pain is something that is not settled upon. Different people report different symptoms. This is because symptoms depend largely on the underlying cause behind the back ache. And the causes vary according to the age, health, sex and condition of the person. The most prominent causes and symptoms of lower back pain are:

Old age

This is the most common cause of lower back pain. People who have crossed the age bar of 50 years usually complain of back pain due to the degeneration of their bones. The symptoms are pain in the lower back and difficulty in walking, moving, or lifting. Medications will include some analgesic pills and exercises.

Sciatica

Sciatica nerve when protruded by herniated disc or decompression of the lumbar spine joints can cause the pain. The symptoms include back pain, buttock pain, leg pain, numbness of leg and ankle swelling. Doctors prescribe medicines as per the severity and exercises. In severe cases surgery is required.

Herniated disc

Injury or accidents slip out the disc of the vertebra joints. They pressurize the nerve roots of the spine causing pain, bowel irregularity and urinary problems. Rest and exercises are recommended for quick recovery.

Kidney stones

Sometimes stones in the kidney can also trigger the lower back pain. The symptoms include sharp pinching pain in the lower back. Medicines to grind the stones are prescribed, and if they fail a surgery is carried out to remove the stones.

Diagnosis of axial back pain

The diagnosis is important as it determines the real cause behind back pain. Various structures in the low back can cause axial lower back pain like degenerated disc, facet joint problems, damage to soft tissues, ligaments, muscles and tendons but it is really difficult to determine which anatomical structure is the ultimate cause behind the back pain. The simple rule should be that if the back pain is troubling you by waking you up from deep sleep then you should consult the physician in order to avoid any serious complications like tumor, infection or fracture. Normally patients with axial pain get cured within six weeks but if not then additional testing or injections are used in diagnosing and treating the source of pain.

The diagnosis for low back pain is a step-wise method which is to get the causes confirmed. Only after the exact cause is determined, the medication begins. So, it is advisable to visit a doctor before taking the back pain medication. You need to visit the doctor to confirm the real cause behind your pain. Also, report the symptoms correctly to help him examine your case.

Everyone suffers from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain due to any kind of fatal accident, fall or injury to the spine cause a condition that requires medical attention. Back pain can happen in any area like the thoracic, cervical or the lumbar.

Treatment of axial low back pain

Various treatment options are available for treating axial back pain. The conservative or non-surgical treatment includes the following:

1) Rest for a short period, generally for one or two days.

2) Physical therapy and active exercise and stretching.

3) Heat or ice application for activity related pain relief.

4) Various useful and appropriate medications for back pain relief.

Dr. Gary S.Sy, M.D. is the medical director of Life Extension Medical Center located at The Garden Plaza Hotel (formerly Swiss Inn Hotel) 1370 Gen Luna St., Paco, Manila. He is diplomate in Gerontology and Geriatrics, advocate diet-nutritional therapy, and conducts free seminar every Friday about age-related health problems. For more details visit our e-mail address: lifeextension_
drgarysy@yahoo .com