What is Lumbago?

Lumbago is a general term used to describe pain in the lower back. It affects millions of Americans per year and can be caused by abnormalities in the spine, joints, muscles, or nerves of the lower back. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, lumbago affects 80% of adults (typically job-related) and can be acute or chronic causing either a dull, aching pain or sudden, sharp pain. 

Who gets lumbago?

Lumbago can affect anyone. The Southwest Spine and Pain team often sees low back pain in patients who work long hours at jobs that involve a lot of bending and heavy lifting. However, patients who also lead sedentary lifestyles and do not exercise regularly have a high risk of getting lumbago as well. Sometimes, an underlying condition such as degenerative disc disease or arthritis could be causing lumbago.

Symptoms

Since lumbago means suffering from lower back pain, some patients may think that’s the only symptom. It’s important to dig deeper into the kind of lower back pain in order to get lumbago treatment. Symptoms include:

  • Pain radiating to the legs
  • Muscle spasms
  • Aching
  • Stiffness
  • Soreness if touched
  • Difficulty walking

It is important to note that patients can experience lumbago without all of the above symptoms present. For example, patients with muscle spasms and stiffness may not have radiating pain. Acute or chronic lumbago may be diagnosed if one or more of the symptoms are present.

Treatment

Lumbago treatment can begin after the source of the low back pain is determined. Southwest Spine and Pain offers a number of lumbago treatment options that are specialized to treat the patient’s specific type of low back pain. For lumbago caused by a condition like sciatica or osteoarthritis, our physicians recommend epidural steroid injections or platelet-rich plasma injections. Epidural steroid injections can reduce inflammation causing low back pain and platelet-rich plasma injections are a more natural way (using the patients’ own blood) to promote healing and strengthen tissues and muscles.

For lumbago caused by injury or degenerative spine conditions, kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty can be used to treat pain from spinal compression fractures.

If the cause of lumbago is unknown, our physicians can pinpoint the pain using nerve block injections. Nerve block injections find the source of the pain as well as provide temporary pain relief for chronic low back pain patients.

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.