One of the main reasons why people miss jobs is back pain. Back pain is debilitating and uncomfortable, especially for men. It may be as a result of injury, medical conditions, or intense activity. As people get older, the chances of having back pain increase because of factors like degenerative disk conditions and previous occupations.
The condition may also be associated with discs in the vertebrae, bony lumbar spine, lower back muscles, spinal cord and nerves, ligaments around the discs and spine, and abdominal, and internal organs. Here are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of lower back pain in men.
Symptoms
When you hear a person saying they have back pain, it might be muscles aching or a shooting or burning sensation in the back. The pain might also radiate down the leg and worsen due to twisting, bending, standing, walking, and lifting objects.
Causes of Lower Back Pain in Men
Discussed below are some common causes of lower back pain in men.
Disc Injury
If there is a part prone to injury is the discs in your back. The risk heightens with age. When the disc tears or herniates, there might be a lot of compression on the nerve root, which causes pain. A herniated or ruptured disc is when the disc’s cartilage pushes against the nerve roots or spinal cord. This causes the cushion between the vertebrae to extend out of the normal position. Disc injury might occur after you suddenly lift something or you twist your back. Pain from a back strain lasts for a few hours, whereas back pain lasts for over 72 hours.
Strains
Excess activities might cause the ligaments and muscles in your back to tear and stretch. Some of the symptoms you will experience include muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain. You can remedy pain from back strains through physical therapy and rest.
Sciatica
If you have a herniated disc, it can press on the sciatic nerve causing sciatica. The nerve that connects the legs and the spine is the sciatic nerve. Sciatica might cause pain in the feet and the legs. The pain from sciatica feels like needles and pins or a burning sensation.
Abnormal Spine Curvature
Kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis are conditions that result in abnormal curvatures in your spine. These conditions get diagnosed during adolescence or childhood. The abnormal spinal curvature causes pain and poor posture due to the pressure it puts on:
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Vertebrae
- Ligaments
Spinal stenosis
When your spinal column narrows, there is a lot of pressure on the spinal nerves and spinal cord, which leads to spinal stenosis. This condition is one cause of lower back pain in men, resulting from disc degeneration. If you have spinal stenosis, you might have symptoms like cramping, numbness, and weakness. You are also likely to experience these symptoms while walking or standing. We can recommend these spinal stenosis doctors in Burbank, CA if you have trouble with lower back pain.
Treatment
Lower back pain may get better within a month of having home treatment. However, every individual is different, and lower back pain is a serious and complex condition. For most people, even after treatment, the pain might not subside for several months, and a few will have severe and persistent pain. One major back pain treatment is the use of OTC and heat.
Also, instead of bed rest, keep doing your activities or exercising. You can also engage in light activities like taking a walk and avoid activities that upsurge the pain. If home treatments are not working after some weeks, visit the best physiotherapy clinic in Downtown for relief from back pain.
Medications
Here are some of the back pain treatments or medications the doctor is likely to recommend to you based on the type of lower back pain.
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OTC painkillers. You can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to relieve back pain. However, only take these medications under a doctor’s prescription. Please note that overuse of painkillers can lead to severe side effects.
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Topical painkillers. These are the products that deliver pain-relieving effects via the skin. They can be salves, creams, patches, and ointments.
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Muscle relaxants. If painkillers do not subside your back pain, your doctor might recommend a muscle relaxant. These drugs might have side effects like dizziness and feeling sleepy.
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Antidepressants. Antidepressants such as duloxetine and tricyclic help to relieve chronic lower back pain.
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Narcotics. You can use drugs with opioids for a short while under the supervision of your doctor to treat your back pain.
Physical therapy
If you visit a physical therapist, they will teach you some exercises to strengthen your back, increase flexibility, and improve posture. Regular use of these exercises is a form of back pain treatment. They will also help you learn the techniques of modifying movements in back pain episodes to prevent pain and be active.
Other Procedures
Here are other procedures you can use to treat back pain:
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Surgery. If your pain is so severe, the doctor might recommend surgery. The surgeon might narrow the spine or the herniated disk through surgery, which has not responded to other treatment methods.
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Radiofrequency neurotomy
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Cortisone injections
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Implanted nerve stimulators
Ways of Preventing Back Pain
To minimize the risk of having lower back pain in men, consider the following:
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Exercises
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A diet that consists of vitamin D and calcium
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Reduce body weight
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Avoid smoking
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Have a neutral pelvic posture when standing
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Have good back support when sitting down
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Use your legs to do the lifting.
Conclusion
Finally, if you are having back pain, ensure you visit the doctor. They will diagnose your issue and offer you the best back pain treatment. You can also visit a Physiotherapy Clinic in Singapore, and they will offer you the best treatment.