It’s estimated that 1 in 10 people in the world experience some form of low back pain.

This is a common problem that people experience, but many don’t realize that without proper treatment or attempting at-home remedies, that their low back pain can get worse.  In this article, we cover common symptoms and how to relieve low back pain using three common home remedies. We also cover treatment options if your low back pain needs some extra help from a professional.

What is lumbar pain?

Your lumbar spine, or lower back, is an intricate network of all the parts needed to support all of the weight of your entire body. In addition, the lumbar spine supports the upper body and hips.

Lumbar pain is usually the result of injury or inflammation. It is actually surprisingly easy to injure your low back – for many, simply bending over wrong can result in an injury. Lumbar injuries are also common in many athletes, including gymnasts, football players, and many more.

Inflammation can affect the muscles, tendons, and nerves in the low back. When your body is inflamed, it can cause localized or radiating pain.

3 Signs of Low Back Pain

Low back pain can be debilitating for so many people. 

Unfortunately, pain levels vary for different people. Some people with a high pain tolerance may experience low back pain as a small twinge that’s simply annoying. Others, especially those who injure themselves severely, might feel their back pain as the worst pain they have ever felt in their life. 

Your low back pain might just start out as you being stiff. It’s uncomfortable but manageable. You might feel that stiffness at only one point, or it might feel like that across your entire back. Or, both options are possible depending on the movement you are doing. Once that stiffness becomes pain, it falls into three categories. 

Since people experience pain differently, low back pain can be in the form of sharp, dull, or burning. 

1. Sharp Pain: 

Sharp pain is often characterized as if you were being poked with a needle; unpleasant and highly noticeable.

2. Dull Pain: 

Everyone has probably experienced dull pain at some point in their lives. It’s a pain that is persistent but can be mild and potentially easily ignored. 

3. Burning Pain:

Burning pain can feel like pins and needles or can feel like significant heat coming off of the affected area. 

How Do I Relieve Low Back Pain at Home?

Obviously, see a doctor before trying any of these at-home remedies. It’s important not to strain yourself or make your low back pain worse. 

Here are three of the most popular ways to relieve low back pain at home. 

Maintain Good Posture – as Much as Possible! 

Having bad posture can cause all kinds of problems for your back! For everyone who sits at a computer for long periods, they know that bad posture can really cause problems for the low back. Bad posture can cause bumps in the spine, a curved spine, and many other issues.

There are numerous posture correctors on the market, so there is no shortage of options for getting better posture. There are also some ideas to keep in mind: 

• Try to keep your head centered over your pelvis – this will help your spine align. 
• Try not to slouch your shoulders forward. 
• If you are sitting at a desk, make sure to have a great desk chair that supports your back.

Stretching – But Do it Right! 

Strong muscles in your core and upper back support the muscles in your low back. Having a solid core always provides that extra relief for your back muscles: there is less pressure overall on your body. 

Having a stretching routine, such as through yoga or strength training, is a great way to relieve low back pain. 

Try Hot and Cold Packs

One instant way to relieve low back pain is through applying different temperatures to the affected area. For some, using a heating pad can provide instant relief. For others, ice or an ice pack wrapped in a towel can numb the pain.  

How Does a Professional Relieve Low Back Pain? 

There are many ways that a professional might relieve low back pain in their patients, but it’s essential to realize that not every treatment option will work for everyone. 

Since our bodies are unique and the causes of our low back pain are all different, your options to relieve low back pain are numerous. We suggest starting with your primary care physician and getting an evaluation. Your doctor may start with an X-ray, MRI, or other diagnostic techniques to discover the cause of your lumbar pain. They also might prescribe pain killers, depending on the severity of your pain. (It is totally up to you about taking them since pain management is a conversation between you and your doctor!)

Depending on what your doctor finds, you now have multiple options to relieve low back pain and get to feeling better. Here at Altru, we have those options for you to consider. These include massage therapy, acupuncture, and physical therapy. 

How to (Potentially) Avoid Myofascial Pain

Massage Therapy: 

Massage techniques are excellent sources to relieve low back pain, especially when combined. A trained professional will be able to combine techniques to provide you relief, such as sports massage, myofascial release, and many more. 

Massage therapy is perfect because it pinpoints different muscle groups that support the lower back, including the glutes and the quadratus lumborum. 

 

Acupuncture: 

It’s reported that almost 8 out of 10 people will experience low back pain at some point; this means that it’s one of the most common problems that a person can have. For many, acupuncture for low back pain has been helpful for centuries, especially when combined with other treatment options. 

Acupuncture needles can precisely pinpoint the pain that you are having, providing short-term relief almost instantly. 

 

Physical Therapy: 

Physical therapists are walking diagnostic tools: they have the knowledge and training to help lumbar pain and assist with other parts of your body. In addition, they are true movement experts. 

An Altru Customer Review

Here’s a quote from a happy Altru client who is currently using our physical therapy services! 

I started seeing Marti for a significant knee injury I sustained about ten years ago. It had always given me problems, but it wasn’t until I gained significant weight and was sedimentary for years that I finally realized I needed help. Marti’s evaluation was tough, but we discovered several important things about my body that day: mainly, it wasn’t just my knee that was a problem. I actually had some hip and low back pain that I knew nothing about. Marti has been doing great work on my entire right side, and I can confidently say that my knee doesn’t hurt anymore, and any lumbar pain is getting much better!

Start Relieving Pain with Altru Integrated Health

We know that getting started can be difficult, but the first step towards your recovery is choosing a health facility that can cater to your unique needs. 

Altru Integrated Health offers specialists that work together to make getting lower back pain treatment so much easier. 

For more information about our services, check out this page. To contact us and set up an appointment, go here!