Lumbago/lower back pain: which is better? Ice or heat?
Lumbago, or lower back pain: if you’ve ever suffered from it, then you know the intense pain and immobility it causes. If you have never suffered from it, with this article you will know how to lessen the discomfort it causes and avoid a future recurrence.
Welcome back to the Dispotech blog!
Today we will be discussing a health problem that can occur from time to time and is really unbearable: lumbago or lower back pain. If you have ever suffered from it, then you know the intense pain and immobility it causes. If you have never suffered from it, with this article you will know how to lessen the discomfort it causes and avoid a future recurrence.
Here is our advice, supported by an article read on css.ch. Have a great read!
Lumbago - the term most often used, but which is synonymous with sciatica or acute lumbar spine syndrome - is one of the most common pains which, sooner or later in life, can occur - and cause quite a few problems.
It isn’t hard to recognise: it is sudden, occurs during common daily activities, causes intense pain and the inability to move the back (especially the lower back). Despite the pain and discomfort it causes, you needn’t worry too much: lumbago usually goes away on its own after a few days, without needing to consult a doctor.
Before giving you some advice on what to do when you have lumbago, here is some interesting information. Do you know why lumbago is called the “witch’s blow” in Italian? Like many of the names we use in our daily lives, it too has roots in the past - in this case, in the Middle Ages. Centuries ago, witches were thought to enjoy hurling magic and pain at their unfortunate victims with arrows! The sudden and intense pain of lower back pain or lumbago is equally unexpected and strong.
Lumbago occurs when the subject has very tense and rigid back muscles. This can surely be due to an abrupt movement (caused by sport, but also everyday gestures such as lifting groceries or getting up from the sofa), but also to stress and particularly prolonged moments of fatigue.
The consequences of lumbago can greatly limit the person suffering from it, causing:
- unbearable and acute pain;
- very limited mobility;
- a blocked back;
- an unnatural position to be assumed.
What can you do to get through those days when lumbago makes you weak and is so painful?
- The pain can certainly be relieved with common over-the-counter drugs (painkillers, muscle relaxants), but it is always best to seek advice from your doctor on dosages and duration of treatment.
- Prepare a warm compress or pack (heated gel pack, hot water bottle, etc.) and place it, well covered with a cloth, on the part of the back that hurts. The heat will relax muscles and reduce the pain.
- Frequent walking (even indoors) can prevent the muscles from becoming numb and supplies them with blood.
Getting exercise is the best way to prevent lumbago: the muscles, if in shape and strong, will not be shocked by sudden, abrupt movements as they are trained to be flexible.
If you have lower back pain and want to do something to help you move, try an L-shaped position: lie on your back, place your legs on a chair so that they form a 90-degree angle, hold the position for at least 20 minutes. This position relaxes the back muscles and can bring relief.
In any case, we recommend that you consult a physiotherapist who can care for you after your sciatica and advise you on how best to train. Knowing the cause of lumbago is also necessary.
What do you think about these suggestions for lumbago? Have they been useful? Do you have others to recommend?
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