Lumbago, also known as nerve entrapment, is the name given to the sudden onset of low back pain. Usually, it arises due to an incorrect motion and can be triggered by swiftly lifting heavy objects. Subsequently, it becomes excruciating, potentially immobilizing for varying durations. You try to get rid of it by hunching over in the fetal position and pulling your knees up. You also find it very difficult to stand up, to stand up straight. Then it slowly disappears, only to reappear at the most unexpected moment. To get rid of it, you have to do a lot, let’s see what exactly.
What is the role of the spinal column?
Your spinal column supports the weight of your body when you walk. Your spine consists of 7 cervical, 12 dorsal, 5 lumbar and 5 sacral vertebrae. It also includes the coccyx, but this is of no interest to the lumbar spine.
One spinal nerve protrudes from the gap between each vertebrae to the right and left. From here they run to muscles, organs, skin, etc.
The vertebrae are held in place by ligaments and muscles called spinal muscles.
With each step you take, your weight is placed on your spine, which is flexible enough to absorb the vibrations caused by your movement.
That is, as long as your spinal muscles are strong enough.
How does a lumbago develop?
When your spinal muscles weaken or you lift heavy, your spine takes more strain and two vertebrae are pressed together. In lucky cases this doesn’t cause a problem, but sometimes they come together by pinching the nerve fibre that runs between them. It is momentarily “pinched” between the two bones.
This causes a sudden, lightning-like, sharp, stabbing and sometimes radiating pain in the leg.
The area around the nerve fibre becomes oedematous, and the pain causes the surrounding muscles to stiffen as a defence. These further increase the pain and may cause a compulsive grip.
Lumbago is the “antechamber” of spinal hernia
If your lumbago recurs several times, it’s time to take it seriously, because it warns you that you still have time to “undo” it.
A lumbago is a warning that you have a weakness. If you don’t take care to prevent it, the next stage is a herniated disc! And you won’t get away with it that easily!
What can cause a lumbar sprain?
The cause is usually very simple: an absolute or relative decrease in the strength of the muscles that support the spine.
- Common cause of muscle weakness is a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for extended periods at the office, on the bus, in the car, in front of the TV, at the movies, or in the theater is widespread. This can even result in getting a painful lumbago when lifting a chair, and it’s a serious issue!
- Relative muscle strength loss is caused by obesity. If you are overweight, your muscles are put under more strain than “designed”. Being overweight and having relatively weak muscles is a direct consequence of lumbar pain, but so is neck and back pain.
- High-intensity exercise due to sport, weight-bearing loads can lead to the same results as being overweight. For example jogging with weight vests.
- Moving house or rearranging your home is a common history of lumbago.
Can lumbar sprain be prevented?
With regular exercise, 30 to 40 minutes a day (including a thorough workout of the back muscles) you can avoid weakening of the spinal and back muscles.
If you’re doing standing or sedentary work, it can leave you thoroughly tired by the end of your shift. But it’s not really physical fatigue, it’s the monotony and monotony that’s exhausting. If you’re not exercising, your weakening back and spine muscles should be supporting your weight.
Other causes can lead to lumbago
As I mentioned above, these are the most common causes of lower back pain. But it can be more than that. So if it’s the first time you’ve had a lumbago, and not from having to move a heavy objects from upstairs to the basement, see a doctor to have the cause investigated.
Among other things that can cause a lumbago:
- inflammation due to injury to the muscles that move the spine
- distortions of the facet joints of the spine (e.g. calcifications pressing on the nerve)
- osteoporosis and thus the convergence of vertebrae
- various spinal infections
- cancerous lesions affecting the vertebrae
Alongside this, there may also be organ diseases: for example, diseases of organs in the lower abdomen or pelvis may cause pain radiating to the lower back, which can be confused with lumbago (this may be caused by kidney diseases, urological problems, gynaecological diseases, etc.)
Lower back pain can also be caused by excessive strain and stress
It’s a little known fact that what “goes on in your head” affects the way your whole body works.
Daily stress, a hectic work schedule and depression can all play a role in the development of low back pain and lumbar strain. If you feel like you have more on your shoulders than you can handle, it could be real back and lower back pain!
If you can, rearrange your life. Consider how much is worth taking on.
Treatments for the onset of acute lumbar pain
Although mild cases of lumbago will resolve on their own within a few days, there are times when you should need to see a doctor immediately. If you feel numbness in your legs; if you suddenly can’t hold your stools or urine; if the back pain is accompanied by a high fever. You should also see a specialist if your pain persists for 4-5 days or if your symptoms are less severe but persist for weeks, returning after a break when you do certain movements.
Avoid physical exertion in the hours after the onset of low back pain, as any physical exertion will increase your discomfort. Lie on your side on a hard mattress (soft and saggy ones are no good). Pull your knees up, “round” your lower back, relieve the lumbar discs.
The medication for lumbar sprains is aimed at relieving pain and relaxing the muscles. However, oral medication not only reaches the painful area but also spreads throughout your body. They also act where you don’t need them to – which can lead to unwanted side effects. Especially if you have to take them for longer than a few days.
If you’re not a fan of drugs, you can choose from a variety of physical therapy methods. These are completely safe but effective treatments. Some can be used to achieve a quick effect (TENS, muscle stimulation, microcurrent), while others require more treatment to reduce symptoms but also speed up recovery (microcurrent, ultrasound, soft laser, magnetotherapy).
Physical therapy methods for treating lumbago at home
There is an arsenal of possibilities when it comes to treating lumbago or lower back pain. Nevertheless, muscle stimulation or in other words, EMS therapy is the most noteworthy.
Muscle stimulation
It’s probably obvious that you can strengthen your weak back muscles with regular spinal strengthening exercises and eliminate your lumbago symptoms. However, even in the case of acute lumbago or even regular back pain, gymnastics is risky and should be avoided! If you start strengthening your back muscles with the weak muscles that led to the lumbago, you will make the situation worse and could even injure yourself.
That’s where muscle stimulation (EMS) comes in. With this method, you can strengthen your back muscles without putting extra weight or load on your spine and causing more damage. Muscle stimulation aims to strengthen your spine and back muscles to the point where it’s safe for you to do back exercises, yoga or even gym work.
Muscle stimulation is no different from traditional exercise in terms of muscle. If the muscle strengthens for exercise, it will also strengthen for stimulation. The only difference is efficiency and time. Read my article on the basics of stimulation and you will understand that muscle stimulation is more effective than exercise and therefore can be used to develop a specific muscle group in a shorter period.
Of course, stimulation is not a substitute for exercise. It complements it. However, it is the only possible and effective method for lumbago. You should treat it at least once a day. After 2-3 weeks you will feel the improvement. In 2-3 months you can strengthen your muscles so much that you can gradually move on to exercise.
Here are some electric muscle stimulators (EMS) that could be useful in the treatment of lumbago or other arthritis through muscle training:
MyoBravo EMS device for lower back pain treatment
- Factory built-in treatment programs
- Built-in muscle stimulation (EMS)
- Treatment of lumbago, and arthritis through EMS programs
- Temporary pain relief through TENS programs
TENS treatment
TENS (i.e. nerve stimulation through the skin) is a method of pain relief. It works in two ways: it stops the transmission of pain impulses to the brain, and it stimulates the production of endorphins, a powerful painkiller produced by your body.
For low back pain, choose a TENS that has what’s called a modulated TENS programme, because it provides effective pain relief over a longer period. Devices that do not have this will only give pain relief for a few days because the brain gets used to the stimulation! Read this article to find out how to choose a TENS unit.
You should also be aware that TENS therapy may relieve your pain, but it has no therapeutic effect. That is, it lasts for a few hours and then wears off. Therefore, you need to repeat it for lasting pain relief.
Microcurrent therapy
It is a more effective pain reliever than TENS, but is only provided by more modern and so far more expensive devices. Its main advantage is that it does not only work on pain.
It rapidly reduces edema around the nerve root, accelerating the regeneration of damaged cells.
However, the microcurrent does not strengthen the muscles, so it does not improve the muscle weakness that causes lumbago.
Soft laser treatment
Its effect is similar to that of microcurrent – it restores the stability of the membrane of the diseased cell and thus can trigger energy production and protein production processes, which accelerates healing.
A particular benefit is the rapid reduction of oedema around the nerve root.
A 2017 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends soft laser as the first-line procedure for lumbar spine, low back pain and non-tear spinal hernia.
Soft laser devices are more expensive than microcurrent or TENS devices and they do not strengthen muscles.
Here are some soft lasers that could be useful in the treatment of gout or other arthritis:
Personal Laser L400 soft laser
- Laser power class 3
- Treatment of lumbago, arthritis, sciatica, etc.
- 808 nanometer laser beam
- CW (continuous wave) laser
- 400 mW power
- 12.5 sec / 5 Joule
