Back pain: Lumbar spondylosis
Lumbar is the medical term for the lower back. Spondylosis is the term referring to arthritis of the joints between the bones. Therefore, lumbar spondylosis is arthritis of the back. The back supports the body and helps keep it upright. It is therefore affected by the weight of the body, especially when standing, sitting and walking.
Pain in the back can radiate to the hips, the legs and the private part. With pressure on the nerves, it can lead to numbness in the legs and weakness, causing difficulty in walking. It can be so bad as to cause problems with passing urine and stool. It can also affect sexual function.
The causes of common back pain are as follows:
•Poor posture
•Improper lifting techniques
•Back injury such as muscle sprains
•Bone and muscle disease
•Stress, anxiety and depression
•Degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis
Treatment of lumbar spondylosis
•Resting: one or two days of bed rest is advisable and most pains will settle. Sleeping on a firm mattress is also good.
•Over the counter drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen taken every four-six hours can also help reduce the pains. read this
•Weight reduction in people who are overweight.
• Physical therapy by a trained physiotherapist.
Life-style changes
•Stop smoking
•Stop alcohol
•Lose weight
•Exercise
Drug treatment
•Paracetamol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Voltarol or Diclofenac, Tramadol
•Steroids like Prednisolone are not recommended treatment for back or neck pains.
Surgery
Operations can be designed especially for each patient, depending on their particular symptoms, signs and MRI. The operation is done to address the particular problem, be it back pain, leg pain or both. The operation can range from a simple injection into the spine or around the nerves to removing a bulging disc, to decompression of the nerves that are under pressure and stabilisation of the spine with screws as scaffolding. Pedicle screw fixation is for pains caused by instability (unstable, wonky or broken spines).
Lumbar is the medical term for the lower back. Spondylosis is the term referring to arthritis of the joints between the bones. Therefore, lumbar spondylosis is arthritis of the back. The back supports the body and helps keep it upright. It is therefore affected by the weight of the body, especially when standing, sitting and walking.
Pain in the back can radiate to the hips, the legs and the private part. With pressure on the nerves, it can lead to numbness in the legs and weakness, causing difficulty in walking. It can be so bad as to cause problems with passing urine and stool. It can also affect sexual function.
The causes of common back pain are as follows:
•Poor posture
•Improper lifting techniques
•Back injury such as muscle sprains
•Bone and muscle disease
•Stress, anxiety and depression
•Degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis
Treatment of lumbar spondylosis
•Resting: one or two days of bed rest is advisable and most pains will settle. Sleeping on a firm mattress is also good.
•Over the counter drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen taken every four-six hours can also help reduce the pains. read this
•Weight reduction in people who are overweight.
• Physical therapy by a trained physiotherapist.
Life-style changes
•Stop smoking
•Stop alcohol
•Lose weight
•Exercise
Drug treatment
•Paracetamol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Voltarol or Diclofenac, Tramadol
•Steroids like Prednisolone are not recommended treatment for back or neck pains.
Surgery
Operations can be designed especially for each patient, depending on their particular symptoms, signs and MRI. The operation is done to address the particular problem, be it back pain, leg pain or both. The operation can range from a simple injection into the spine or around the nerves to removing a bulging disc, to decompression of the nerves that are under pressure and stabilisation of the spine with screws as scaffolding. Pedicle screw fixation is for pains caused by instability (unstable, wonky or broken spines).
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