Some physicians believe that almost every American over the
age of 40 experiences some degree of pain in the lower back. The lower part of
the spinal column does not have the support of the rib cage as does the upper
part. The spine is made up of vertebrae. Between the bodies of the vertebral
bones are disks which act as shock absorbers. Ligaments bind the bones
together. And, Acute Low Back Pain This may be produced by a fall, blow,
lifting a heavy weight, pushing a car, shoveling snow, etc., or there may
appear to be no cause.
The pain is usually severe and there is difficulty in
walking and standing. Most acute attacks yield completely, or show decided
improvement, after a few days of complete rest in bed with a very firm
mattress, preferably with a bed board under it (the board should be about six
inches smaller than the mat- tress so sheets can be tucked in, and so no one
will bump against it). Aspirin is helpful, but the doctor may prescribe a
stronger pain reliever such as Darvon, Demerol, or codeine. Many
muscle-relaxant medications are advocated for relief of the muscle spasm which
contributes so much to pain. It is doubtful that they live up to their claims.
Muscle spasm will be helped by warm, moist packs which
should be changed frequently to maintain warmth and should not be scalding
finally, muscles of the lower back and of the abdomen as well are designed to
give the spinal column support. Young people who are vigorous in sports and
physical activities rarely are troubled by backache unless there is a direct
injury.
It is usually the person who gradually has lost physical
fitness, whose supporting muscles have weakened, who has put on excesspoundage, and who has developed poor posture, who is a candidate for low back
pain. Many persons erroneously ascribe backache to "kidney trouble"
and waste money on medicines to "flush" the kidneys. Similarly, the
uterus has been blamed by many women for their backache. Only rarely is a anal positioned
womb the cause. Hot, since excessive heat can include muscle spasm.
A bath in comfortably warm water is helpful if there is no
problem about getting into and out of the bath. A soothing way to apply warmth
to the back is to have the patient sit on a stool or waterproof chair set in
the bathtub; place a large towel over the shoulders and upper back; and have
the shower trickle comfortably warm water onto the towel and down to the
painful area in the low back. When done for 15 to 20 minutes at a time several
times a day, this can be very helpful.
If an attack of low back pain is so
severe that there is inability to sleep, or if there is urgency about
shortening the attack, then a short stay in a hospital may be helpful. In the
hospital, strong pain relievers can be given by injection; this helps not only
to reduce suffering but to stop muscle spasm.
