Say No to Spine Problems NOW!
Experiencing back pain and want a long term solution to this perennial problem?
Then approach Dr. Kevin Yip the Orthopaedic Surgeon at Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Centre located within Gleneagles Medical Centre, the right person to advise you on how to enjoy a healthy spine and nervous system.
What is low back pain?
Low back pain can happen to anywhere in your spine, below the ribs and above the legs. The lower back connects the upper and lower body. It bears the most of your body’s weight. Due to this, your back is the most commonly injured compare to the rest of the body and you can easily hurt your back if you life heavy loads, overstretch or twisting. Everyone will have low back pain one time in their life.
What causes low back pain?
Causes of low back could be injury or degeneration disease.
Causes of low back pain include:
- Overuse, strain, or injured your lower back
- Aging
- Herniated disc
- Compression fractures
- Ankylosing Spondylitis. Low back arthritis.
- Forestier’s Disease
- Lower Back Pain
- Lumbar Spine Disorder
- Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc.
- Sacroiliac Joint Disorder
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis. A spine problem you were born with
- Spondylolysis
- Tailbone Pain
What are the low back pain symptoms?
The symptoms of the low back pain varies with individuals. Some people may feel constant dull or sharp back pain. Some people may feel pain in a small area or a broad area. Some may feel muscle spasms to the back.
Sometimes low back pain can cause symptoms to the legs or thighs, such as pain, numbness, or tingling sensation over the thigh area and sometimes the low back symptoms may extend below the knee to the calf.
Cauda equina syndrome is a rare but serious low back pain problem. This is a condition whereby the nerves at the end of the spinal cord are squeezed. Seek specialist treatment if you feel weakness or numbness in both of your legs or you could not control your bladder or bowel.
Seek specialist treatment if your low back pain does not go away with rest. If you ignore your low back pain, it may result to chronic back pain.
How is low back pain diagnosed?
Our specialist will ask questions about you past medical history. He will examine your spine carefully.
If your low back pain lasted more than four weeks, or if our specialist suspect that you may have more than muscle pain after the examination, he may refer you for an MRI investigation.
How is it treated?
Minor low back pain will improve after resting for a day or two.
Other treatments for your low back pain includes:
- Physiotherapy. Strengthening to your back muscles.
- Epidural injection
- Back surgery for disc problem that may lead to nerve problem
Low back pain video
How can you prevent low back pain from returning?
If you’ve had low back pain before, the chances of getting low back pain again is higher.
To prevent future low back pain, you can follow these activities:
- Maintain good posture.
- Low impact exercise like walk or swim.
- Avoid wearing high heeled shoes.
- Sleep on your side.
- Watch your weight. Being too heavy, especially around your waist, puts extra stress on your back.
- Avoid lifting heavy loads.
If you sit or stand for long periods at work:
- Pay attention to your posture. Sit or stand up straight, with your shoulders back.
- Make sure your chair has good back support.
- Take regular breaks to walk around.
If your work involves a lot of bending, reaching, or lifting:
- Use good techniques for lifting.
