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Low back pain and Hip is pain affecting the lower part of the back or
Hip. It is described as:
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Acute if it has lasted less than 6 weeks.
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Sub-acute if it has lasted 6-12 weeks.
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Chronic if it has lasted more than 12 weeks.
Low back pain is very common, costing millions in lost work, as well as
millions in medical, state and insurance resources every year. Most back
pain does not signify any serious underlying problem, and will sort its
self out within a few days to a few weeks.
Low back pain means a pain or ache somewhere between the bottom of the
ribs, at the back, and the top of the legs. The pain often begins
suddenly, and may follow an obvious strain or injury, but may seem to come
on "out of the blue", or come on slowly.
The pain may travel to or be felt elsewhere. It often goes into the
buttocks, but may go further down the leg and even into the foot.
The pain may be worse on bending and is often worse sitting, especially
in an easy chair. Sometimes turning over in bed and sitting up are
agonizing. Coughing or sneezing can often make the pain much worse. The
muscles of the back may go into painful spasm.
Back pain may be combined with pain into the leg,
traveling down below
the knee, this is otherwise known as sciatica,
because the main nerve to the leg (the sciatic nerve) is being irritated
by pressure on it.
Low back pain is common. The main cause for low back pain is a strain
of the muscles, or other soft structures (eg ligaments and tendons)
connected to the back bones (vertebrae). Sometimes it is the cushion
between the bones (intervertebral disc) which is strained, and which
bulges out (herniates) and presses on the nearby nerves (as in sciatica).
Exactly what is injured varies from person to person, but you may also
get differing theories depending on whom you ask. Thus the poor sufferer
may become confused and worried.
Although the experts may not agree on what is causing the problem,
there is a surprising amount of agreement on how best to improve the
situation.
Various other conditions can cause back pain, and if in doubt about
what is causing your pain, you should consult your doctor. |
