Lumbago

Lumbago

Commonly referred to as lower back pain, lumbago describes pain or ache felt in the areas between the bottom of the ribs at the back of the torso and the top of the legs. It is common and can come from many different events, including injury, strain or seemingly nowhere.

Some people experience lower back pain when they cough, sneeze, sit up or roll over in bed. The pain may become worse as a result of the back muscles tensing up or going in spasm. Mostly, lumbago will disappear after a short period of rest in the case of strain or injury, or just as mysteriously as it appeared, but if you experience it for several weeks without let-up then you should seek specialist help.

Common Symptoms

Pain in the area around the lower back
The pain may extend to the buttocks and legs
Difficulty when bending backward or forward
Numbness may occur in the buttocks and the feet
Tingling and sensations in the legs, buttocks, and the lower back
Patients experience disturbed sleep caused by pain when lying down
Our Assessment Process

An investigation at the Harley Street Hospital to unearth the precise part of your spine that is causing the problem begins with a chat with one of our spine specialists. We will be interested in any activity or event that may have led to injury, infection or damage to the discs in the lower back region. Once we are satisfied, arrangements will be made for you to have a CT scan or an MRI, as these show not only the bones but the soft spinal structures around the spine as well. You may also be asked to do a blood test so that our specialists can rule out rarer causes of back pain.

Back Pain Red Flags

Sometimes back pain can be the result of other complications other than mechanical pain. Some of these include if you are:

Are under 20 or over 55 years of age
Having pain following a violent injury
Having pain that is constant and getting worse
A cancer patient or cancer survivor
On steroids
Losing lots of weight
Abusing illegal drugs
HIV positive
Or you find it extremely difficult to bend forwards
If you experience acute lower back pain with one of these symptoms you should make plans to see a doctor immediately. In cases like these our specialist consultants will do a more thorough investigation.

Treatment Options

For normal back pain, we recommend the use of simple painkillers. We also advise our patients with lumbago to stay active as exercise helps the backbone muscles remain strong. Heat therapy, especially in the area around the lower back, can also help. You may choose to do regular swimming in a warm pool or to apply a hot water bottle to the area. Short periods of rest are also good for all those with lower back pain.

Most of us will experience back pain at some period in our lives. This may be due to stress, bad posture, lifting heavy objects, or even sleeping on a mattress or pillow that provides inadequate support to the neck and spine. Whatever the source of your lumbago, spine specialists at the London Spine Unit will be able to help you get to the bottom of the source quickly, and then to find the right treatment for the best outcome.