* Severe low Back Pain from lifting
* Low Back Pain in endurance runners
* Office ergonomics posture and low Back Pain
* Occupational low Back Pain
* Low Back Pain and pneumonia

Studies indicate that as many as 60 percent of patients in the general practitioners’ offices are those with passing or chronic low Back Pain. In most cases, the pain is temporary, and resolves of its own accord in two or three weeks.

Your Risk Factor

Everyone is at risk for low Back Pain, but not necessarily for chronic low Back Pain. Both children and elderly people can suffer. Children usually suffer low Back Pain as a result of injury, and heal quickly. Senior citizens, especially those who are sedentary, are more likely to strain their backs while performing some unaccustomed activity.

Those at greatest risk are middle-aged people, from 30 to 50 years of age. Carrying or lifting heavy bags, furniture, etc. are usually the causes of low Back Pain in this age group.

If your pain is acute, and is caused by health problems, it may become chronic low Back Pain. Arthritis can also produce chronic low Back Pain. Do not assume, however, that nothing can be done.

Overcoming Low Back Pain

Conquering chronic low Back Pain is often a matter of regular, consistent exercise. As long as your physician agrees, you can try exercise for most chronic low Back Pain, including arthritis. Many exercises for low Back Pain require no equipment at all. Some may require a simple, straight-back chair, or a gym ball. In some cases, water exercise is recommended, since it puts less pressure on joints while strengthening core muscles.

We described exercises for low Back Pain in an earlier blog on this site. Look for 06-Exercise for Back Pain under blog “Categories” to the right side of this page.

CAUTION: The author is not a medical professional, and intends the information here to be for educational purposes only. Please be sure you see your physician about low Back Pain, and seek his or her advice about exercise.

Three Kinds of Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain is normally classified into one of three categories:

1. Axial lower Back Pain – known as simple Back Pain
2. Radicular lower Back Pain – known as Sciatica
3. Lower Back Pain with referred pain

Lower Back and Leg Pain – Sciatica

Your lower back and leg pain when standing is likely Sciatica, or radicular lower Back Pain. Causes of lower back and leg pain when standing are usually the compression or pinching of a lower spinal nerve, especially the sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve runs from your spine, down the back of your thigh, down the back of your calf, and into your foot. As the nerve is compressed or pinched, you feel pain radiating from your lower back down into your leg. Sometimes, Sciatica will cause greater pain in the leg than in the back. The patient hurries to a doctor, asking for causes of lower back and leg pain when standing.

The sciatic nerve compression may be caused by a herniated disk. It may also be caused by a narrowing of the passage through which the nerve travels the spine. This is more common in older people. If you have diabetes or nerve root injuries, these also may cause compression of the sciatic nerve.

Lower Back and Leg Pain Treatment

If you have lower back and leg pain when standing, try the following:

* Apply a heating pad to the painful area or areas.
* Alternate ice packs with the heat.
* Take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication to relieve the pain.
* Rest for a day or two.
* Try exercises for Back Pain to release compression.

CAUTION: You should call your family doctor if your lower back and leg pain continue beyond 2 or 3 weeks, or if you have any of these additional symptoms:

* Leg pain that extends below the knee
* Numbness in the legs or groin area
* Fever, nausea or vomiting, stomachache, weakness or sweating
* Inability to control bathroom functions

Lower Back Pain is, in the United States, one of the most common complaints related to the back. Approximately 80% of adults will experience lower Back Pain at some point in their lives.

Surprisingly, the intensity of the pain may well be unrelated to how much physical damage exists.

* On the one hand, you might have excruciating pain from a muscle spasm you got when you strained your back. Such pain might make it difficult for you to walk, or even stand.
* On the other hand, a large herniated disk, or a disk that is completely degenerated, might cause you no pain at all.

Lower Back Pain Symptom #1

Deep, aching, dull, or burning pain. This pain may be felt in your lower back and/or traveling down your legs. You may find it difficult or impossible to carry on regular daily activities. You may find it difficult or unbearable to work, even if your job requires no manual labor. This lower Back Pain symptom is usually descriptive of chronic Back Pain.

Lower Back Pain Symptom #2

Very sharp pain, or dull ache, usually felt deep in the lower part of your back. This pain may be more intense in one place. You may feel it more in your right side, or it may feel worse in your left side. It may be toward the center or in the lower part of the back. If yours is a very sharp pain, it can come or go, but it usually remains steady. This lower Back Pain symptom is likely to be acute Back Pain caused by an injury or trauma to the back. However, many times there is not apparent cause.

Lower Back Pain Symptom #3

Mechanical Back Pain is a third type of lower Back Pain symptom. The name conjures up images of a mechanical doll or robot, but the pain is real. Acute pain, this one is aggravated when you move. Coughing makes the pain worse. This lower Back Pain symptom is typical of a herniated disk or a stress fracture in the back.

In addition to the pain in your lower back, you might experience pain that radiates into your upper back, your pelvic or abdominal region, or into your hips and legs. Such a pain may consist of a tingling or burning sensation, a dull ache, or a sharper pain. The type of radiating pain could give your physician a clue as to the possible cause.

Lower Back Pain symptoms can be the result of injury to muscles, ligaments, and nerves. They may be a combination of factors. Sometimes, even a well-qualified health care provider will be unable to find the cause, but your lower Back Pain symptoms will still be very real.

Your lower Back Pain symptoms may consist of shooting pain, numbness or tingling down one or both legs, and even into the feet. Swelling or weakness in one leg will indicate a pinched or compressed nerve somewhere in the spinal area. Inability to flex your foot or raise your big toe as you normally would is another lower Back Pain symptom. Muscle spasms or stiffness in the back can be very uncomfortable and difficult to manage. Lower Back Pain symptoms may increase at night or during long periods of sitting.

Action to Take for Lower Back Pain Symptoms

The first step in treating your lower Back Pain symptom should be to contact a doctor to rule out certain causes for the pain. Your doctor may prescribe bed rest for a day or two. He or she may suggest physical therapy or prescription medication to help manage the pain until treatment begins to take effect.

On the other hand, if your lower Back Pain symptoms are not caused by a serious condition, your doctor may recommend heating pad application alternating with ice packs. You may be given a series of exercises to do at home, strengthening the back muscles.

Lower Back Pain symptoms can be uncomfortable enough to cause withdrawal from many activities that you enjoy. With consistent, careful treatment, however, you will soon relieve or even cure many of your lower Back Pain symptoms.

THREE KEYS

Three keys to lower Back Pain exercise are:

* begin slowly
* be consistent
* build habits

Your lower Back Pain exercise should begin slowly and gently. Back muscles damage quickly, rebuild slowly. Ensure muscles get the full benefit of your lower Back Pain exercise by beginning slowly.

Be consistent with your lower Back Pain exercise. Set aside time for careful exercise at least 3 times weekly. Then hold to your schedule. Lower Back Pain exercise needs to be consistent.

As your lower Back Pain exercise begins to strengthen your muscles, work to build “lower Back Pain exercise habits” into your life. Add aerobic activity such as cycling, swimming, or walking.

Proper Lower Back Pain Exercise

Before you begin lower Back Pain exercise, meet with your physician and discuss your exercise plan. Your doctor may teach you additional exercises. Once your doctor gives the word, you can begin lower Back Pain exercise at home.

Begin with Warm-up

Lower Back Pain exercise demands warm-up, so schedule at least five minutes at the start of your exercise period for that. Use some type of slow, rhythmic movement. Walking is a good warm-up for lower Back Pain exercise. Use an easy walking pace, inhaling and exhaling evenly and deeply.

Try these lower Back Pain exercises

1. Back, hip, and leg muscles. Stand with your back against a wall. Place your feet shoulder-width apart, your hands on your hips. Inhale and exhale deeply and evenly as you gently slide your back down the wall until your knees are at an angle of about 90 degrees. Count to five, and then gently and slowly slide back to your original position. Repeat five times. This will stretch and strengthen lower back, hip, and leg muscles.

2. Back and hip muscles #1. You may want a mat under you for this. Lying facedown on the floor, tighten the muscles in one leg and raise it from the floor. Hold the leg up while you count to ten, and then lower it slowly to the floor. Lift the other leg, count to 10, and lower it slowly to the floor. Repeat 5 times with each leg to give added strength to lower back muscles and the hip muscles that support them.

3. Back and hip muscles #2. Use a straight back kitchen or dining chair for this exercise. Stand behind the chair, holding the chair with both hands. Lift one leg up and back, keeping its knee straight. Return it slowly to position, and lift the other leg up and back in the same way. Repeat 5 times with each leg. This lower Back Pain exercise will strengthen hip muscles that support your back, as well as back muscles themselves.

Secret

Think “slow” and “gentle” for successful lower Back Pain exercise. Inhale before every repetition. Exhale during the action.

End with Cool-down

Lower Back Pain exercise times should always end with a cool down. Use gentle stretching and breathing exercises, relaxing your muscles.