Lower back pain

Lower back pain, or lower back symptoms, is a collective term for all complaints in the bottom of the back. These symptoms cause pain in the lower back and discomfort during daily activities. About 75% of adults experience back symptoms at some point in their lives. This can be for a short period, but the lower back can also cause long-lasting symptoms.

Types of lower back pain

Lower back pain is divided into specific lower back pain and non-specific lower back pain. With specific back pain, the cause of the symptoms is known. With non-specific lower back pain, there is no clear cause. About 90% of lower back symptoms are non-specific lower back pain.

Specific lower back pain

10% of back symptoms are due to specific back pain. Those back symptoms have a clear cause. There are two different types of specific lower back pain:

1. Back pain with nerve entrapment (lumbosacral radicular syndrome).
   Here, back symptoms are present with radiating pain. This radiation is caused by a pinched nerve. The best-known example of this is a herniated disc.

2. Back pain caused by a disease or condition in the lower back.
   Examples include:

   • Bone fracture.
   • Osteoporosis.
   • Tumour.
   • Ankylosing spondylitis.
   • Infection.
   • Spinal canal stenosis.

Non-specific lower back pain

With non-specific lower back pain, there are back symptoms without a clear cause. They can radiate to the pelvis, buttocks, and thighs. The pain gets worse with certain movements, postures, or activities. The pain can be intermittent or continuous and may also get worse during the day.

Three phases of lower back pain

Lower back pain is divided into three phases. The division is made according to the duration of the symptoms:

• Acute lower back pain (up to six weeks).
• Subacute lower back pain (six to 12 weeks).
• Chronic lower back pain (longer than 12 weeks).

Lower back pain normally resolves by itself in the first six weeks. The body then heals the symptoms itself. It is important to keep moving. Treatment usually does not speed up recovery. Recovery can be hindered by fear or extreme pain. In that case, treatment in the first six weeks can be useful. This can be done with painkillers and physiotherapy.

Treatment of lower back pain

The treatment is often the same for both specific and non-specific lower back pain. The solution lies in moving properly (and continuing to move). A large part of the treatment will therefore consist of exercises.

To be able to move well, massage, mobilisations, or manual therapy can be applied. These treatments are aimed at reducing pain and increasing mobility. These forms of treatment provide relief but often only temporarily if you do not subsequently move in the right way.

Specific lower back pain is also treated by moving correctly. This is despite, for example, a herniated disc or a fracture in the back. By keeping the back as strong as possible, the symptoms recover better. This does take longer than six weeks, and it is wise to seek advice from the physiotherapist.

Surgery is performed when normal treatment does not work or when symptoms arise due to nerve deficit or a fracture that can no longer recover. Fortunately, this is rare.

A physiotherapist treats people with lower back pain. They also have the knowledge to know when moving should be discouraged. Acute, subacute, and chronic back pain are treated in the same way. The big difference is that the longer the symptoms are present, the longer recovery will take.

Pain in the lower back

It has been scientifically proven that back pain in itself does not say anything about the cause. Managing the symptoms properly and keeping the body as strong as possible reduce the pain. Avoiding pain by moving less is a normal reaction, but in many cases, it is counterproductive. In other words, by moving less, you often only get more lower back pain.

Do the self-check for lower back pain to assess your symptoms. Would you like help, advice, or do you have a question about lower back pain? Then make an appointment with a physiotherapist nearby.