03/12/2024
Lower Back Pain 6
Quiz & Answers
Q1. How common is lower back pain?
A1. Around 4 out of 5 people have it at some point in their lives.
Q2. What are the risk factors?
A2. Age, weight, overall health, occupation and lifestyle, structural problems, disease and mental health.
Q3. What are the symptoms?
A3. Pain may come on suddenly or after a specific event. The pain may be sharp or dull and achy and it may radiate to your bottom or down the back of your legs.
Q4. What causes lower back pain?
A4. Strains, fractures, disk problems, structural problems, arthritis, disease, spondylolisthesis.
Q5. How is lower back pain diagnosed?
A5. From your symptoms, a physical exam and possibly imaging studies to see clear pictures of your vertebrae, disks, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other soft tissues.
Q6. What are the treatments for lower back pain?
A6. It usually gets better with rest, ice and over the counter pain killers.
Q7. What can I do if those don’t work?
A7. Try physical therapy, hands-on manipulation, steroid injections, surgery.
Q8. How can I prevent lower back pain?
A8. You can’t if it is the result of disease or structural problems, but you can reduce the risk by maintaining a healthy weight, strengthening your abdominal muscles and lifting the right way.
Q9. When should I see my GP?
A9. If the pain doesn't go away after a week, you have tingling or numbness in your buttocks or legs, you have severe pain or muscle spasms, you have a fever, weight loss, bowel or bladder problems.
Q10. How should I lift to avoid injuries?
A10. Lift with your legs (not your back).
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