Low Back Pain
Common symptoms include pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms. These can be felt anywhere in the lower back and buttocks area.
How could it affect me?
The symptoms can be felt with simple day to day activities such as sitting, bending, lifting, walking and exercise. Low back pain can affect our ability to carry out daily activities, including work and hobbies. At times the pain can feel severe and for some be ongoing. This can affect our general well-being and mental health.
Why does it happen?
Low back pain problems can start because of an injury (for example fall or twisting incident), from doing more than you normally do (for example increased lifting or increased exercise) or it can start for no obvious reason.
Factors that may increase the risk of ongoing low back pain include previous back pain, obesity, smoking, educational status, stress, anxiety, depression, work issues and whole-body vibration jobs.
It can affect any of us at any age.
Is it serious?
Although the pain and disability caused by an episode or flare of low back pain can be severe at first, very rarely are the symptoms a sign of something serious going on.
However, you need to seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing back pain with or without leg symptoms, alongside:
- New or worsening problems starting or stopping passing urine (water)
- New or worsening problems starting or stopping opening the bowels (including soiling yourself)
- New or worsening numbness or altered sensation around the saddle region (genitals and back passage)
Will it get better?
The answer for most people is ‘yes’ as most symptoms will ease in the first 2 to 6 weeks for a new onset of back pain or a flare-up of longstanding low back pain. It can take some people longer to get back to their normal and some describe ongoing problems.
Taking steps to look after your physical and mental health can give the best opportunity for a successful recovery.
