Lumbar spine syndrome (lumbago)

When should you see a doctor?

No cause can be found in 90% of low back pain. This type of low back pain is called non-specific low back pain . They usually go away on their own. It is rare for low back pain to be caused by serious medical conditions. Nevertheless, please make sure that you do not have any of the complaints listed here. They are signs of serious illness, which is why you should consult a doctor immediately.

Examples of these signs include:

• Lower back pain after a serious accident
• Known brittle bones (osteoporosis)
• Recent fever or chills
• Recent back surgery
• Severe night pain
• Radiating pain with sensory disturbances (e.g. numbness, tingling, weakness)
• Sudden onset of bladder/rectal dysfunction
• Sensory disturbances in the crotch area
• Paralysis and sensory disturbances in the legs
• Less pain with increasing paralysis
• A history of cancer
• Weight loss without a planned diet
• Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
• You suffer from psoriasis or a chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Lumbar spine syndrome – lumbago – lumbago

Lumbar spine syndrome is not a disease in itself, but a symptom. It denotes pain in the lower back, in the area between the lowest ribs and the buttocks. Another word for this is lumbago . This pain can be short-term, i.e. acute, or long-term, chronic. Lumbago is not a disease in its own right . The term is most commonly used to describe sudden pain in the lower back.

Structure of the spine

Your spine is extremely important to the stability of your body. It carries your body weight, keeps you upright, allows your extremities their range of motion, and serves as a protective and conductive pathway for your spinal cord. To accomplish these tasks, it consists of fixed and moving parts, all of which should work together optimally.

The normal spine consists of 34 bony vertebrae. With a few exceptions – 5 vertebrae are fused to form the sacrum, 4 to 5 to form the coccyx – there is an intervertebral disc between each vertebra that serves as a shock absorber. Each vertebra has a hole through which the spinal cord passes. Nerves branch off the spinal cord between the vertebrae on either side, which control muscles and send information back from your extremities to your brain.

In order to hold these important structures, the vertebrae are connected to each other with small joints. In addition, there are strong ligaments around your spine and back muscles to keep you upright.

Why does back pain arise?

Pain acts as a warning system for your body. If problems arise, your body sends appropriate signals to the brain – only there does the actual pain arise.

When the nerves near the spine become irritated, pain occurs. In the case of non-specific low back pain, however , often no cause of the irritation can be found. Although it is not yet known what exactly causes low back pain in these cases, there are various causes that often combine to lead to low back pain.

• Tense muscles: 85-90% of complaints are caused by malfunction or tension in the muscles
• Stress
• overweight
• Incorrect loading (e.g. incorrect lifting)
• Lack of exercise/sport
• Long sitting
• Mental complaints (e.g. low spirits, depression, anxiety)

The workplace also has a major impact on low back pain. Occupational risk factors include:

• Heavy physical work such as lifting heavy loads
• Predominantly uniform posture
• Be exposed to frequent vibrations
• Job dissatisfaction/bullying

LWS syndrome symptoms

Low back pain often radiates to the buttocks or legs. These are mainly supplied by the nerves that leave the spinal cord at the level of the lumbar spine. The brain usually cannot distinguish at which level a nerve is being stimulated. As a result, irritation directly on the back is often projected onto the area for which the nerve is actually responsible.

Diagnose eines LWS-Syndrom

Since the lumbar spine syndrome can have various causes, the search for the primary trigger of the pain is paramount. A thorough conversation about your living conditions, activities and work environment can determine the first causes and warning signs of serious illnesses can be found.
Imaging procedures are not the focus for non-specific low back pain, since healthy people often show signs of wear and tear. It is important that treatment for low back pain is tailored to the individual in order to treat the pain quickly and prevent it from becoming chronic.

therapy for low back pain

The most important measure for lower back pain is exercise . Bed rest can actually increase low back pain and delay healing. At worst, it can lead to a reduction in muscle mass and the formation of blood clots. You should therefore maintain your normal movement as much as possible or even increase it slightly. Painkillers can help in the initial phase of the pain.

So-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) are recommended for short-term use as pain medication for low back pain. These drugs have a pain and anti-inflammatory effect and are therefore a purely symptomatic treatment of the complaints. They include, for example, diclofenac and ibuprofen. Before you take these medications for a long time, you should discuss with your doctor what side effects they have and whether you should choose other painkillers based on existing medical conditions or medication. Paracetamol is not recommended for lower back pain.

In general, it doesn’t make sense to simply endure your back pain. Even if most complaints do not require further treatment, back pain can become chronic if not treated adequately.

How can you prevent lower back pain?

In order to avoid back pain, you should not do without regular exercise and sport , they strengthen your back muscles. Since the spine supports your body weight, being overweight puts a lot of strain on it. It therefore makes sense to reduce your weight if you are overweight.
You should also try to avoid awkward bent-back postures . This includes, for example, lifting heavy loads with your legs instead of your back. If you have a particularly back-straining job, it may be worth talking to your doctor about changes you can make to be more gentle on your back.

Here’s how Med-Healths can help

What are the causes of your lower back pain? Can you change things in your everyday life to prevent lower back pain? In addition to your back pain, do you have any other symptoms that indicate a serious illness? With Med-Healths you can answer these questions in a direct conversation with a doctor. They can discuss the treatment plan with you and, if your low back pain is severely limiting you, issue a sick note.