The following article on the treatment and causes of low back pain was written for all the back pain topic readers out there. Are you one of them? Back pain is the most common ailment forcing people to see a doctor. And low back pain wins hands down as the most suffered type of back pain.

The treatments and causes of low back pain are plenty. It can overtake us quickly or grow overnight if we have lifted something heavy or bent our back the wrong way.

Low back pain affects people of almost all ages, with those between 30 and 50 years of age being the most common. Teenagers are also sometimes affected by low back pain from carrying heavy backpacks every day causing strain on the lower back.

Understanding the causes and treatment of low back pain is especially significant when you find back pain sneaking up on you. And this is an individual thing. Mostly you will find low back pain is caused by working the back either too much or too little.

Individuals that have a very sedentary lifestyle may develop low back pain because their muscles are weak. However, a person with a very energetic sporty lifestyle may also develop low back pain from overusing their back.

The following causes of low back pain, if not treated early can become critical. These include sciatica, age, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, bulging or ruptured disc and heavy lifting. One example is a bulging or ruptured disc when left untreated may get pushed in the spinal canal where it will lay against the lumbar and nerve roots. Besides causing severe pain, this condition known as cauda equine syndrome, can also cause permanent neurological damage.

Many cases of low back pain are caused by poor posture or improper sitting, lifting and bending. Mostly back pain including low back pain could be avoided with good ergonomics. When it comes to low back pain the patient, coupled with how bad the pain is, will influence the treatment. People usually will only opt for surgery as a last resort. Luckily surgery can be avoided in most cases.

When you first hurt your back, it is important to put ice on the sore spot for up to 15 minutes every few hours on the first day or two of the injury. This is very important to avoid swelling. It can also make the difference between fast pain improvement and the advancement to something more serious.

If you attend the doctors surgery for the causes and treatment of low back pain they’ll probably suggest an analgesic with an anti-inflammatory drug. After a few days X-rays may be ordered if your low back pain has not improved.

Physical therapy or sports therapy is usually the treatment of choice if there is not a problem with your X-rays requiring a surgical procedure. Although physical therapy may be painful at the time, it is very beneficial in the majority of low back pain situations. Also to protect your back in the future and decrease the pain you will probably receive special exercises to complete at home.

We have come to the end of this article on the causes and treatment of low back pain. I hope you will find the tips useful and visit our back pain site for a large range of back pain topics.

The author Lorna Hillier is a registered nurse and is interested in many health topics. Her huge back pain site has an informative free report called “Back Pain Relief Made Easy.” The main area reports on popular Soma Pain Pills and also includes 15 back pain related sections, one being Upper Back Pain.

Nothing contained in this article is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professionals advice.