Lumbar whiplash is the most common cause of work-related disability. At least 80 percent of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime. Most pain is the result of injury, such as muscle sprains or strains due to sudden movements or poor body mechanics when lifting heavy objects.
Acute back pain can last from a few days to a few weeks, while chronic back pain is pain that lasts for more than three months.
What are the causes of lumbar whiplash?
The muscles and ligaments of the back can be stretched or torn due to over-activity. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the lower back, as well as muscle spasms.
Disc injury
The discs in the back are prone to injury. This risk increases with age. The exterior of the disc can rupture or herniate.
A herniated disc, which is also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the cartilage surrounding the disc pushes against the spinal cord or nerve roots. The cushion between the spinal vertebrae extends out of its normal position.
This can result in compression of the nerve root as it exits the spinal cord and through the vertebral bones. Disc injury usually occurs suddenly after lifting something or twisting your back. Unlike a back strain, the pain from a disc injury usually lasts more than 72 hours.
Sciatica
Sciatica can occur with a herniated disc if the disc presses on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve connects the spine to the legs. As a result, sciatica can cause pain in the legs and feet. This pain usually feels like burning or tingling.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves.
Spinal stenosis is most commonly due to degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae. The result is compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bone spurs or soft tissues, such as discs.
Abnormal curvatures of the spine.
Scoliosis , kyphosis, and lordosis are all conditions that cause abnormal curvatures in the spine.
These are congenital conditions that are usually first diagnosed during childhood or adolescence. The abnormal curvature causes pain and poor posture by putting pressure on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and vertebrae.
Other conditions
There are a number of other conditions that cause low back pain. These conditions include:
- Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.
- Fibromyalgia is long-term pain and tenderness in the joints, muscles, and tendons.
- Spondylitis is the inflammation of the joints between the bones of the spine. Spondylosis is a degenerative disorder that can cause loss of the normal structure and function of the spine. Although aging is the main cause of the condition, the location and rate of degeneration are specific to the individual.
- Kidney and bladder problems.
- Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts
- Uterine fibers
- Cancer
Symptoms and types of pain
Lumbar whiplash can incorporate a wide variety of symptoms. It can be mild and just annoying, or it can be severe and debilitating. Low back pain can start suddenly or it can start slowly and gradually get worse over time.
Depending on the cause of the pain, symptoms can be experienced in a number of ways. For instance:
- Dull pain contained in the lower back.
- Shooting, burning pain that moves from the lower back to the back of the thighs, sometimes to the lower legs or feet; may include numbness or tingling (sciatica)
- Muscle spasms and stiffness in the lower back, pelvis, and hips.
- Pain that worsens after sitting or standing for a long time
- Difficulty standing, walking, or going from standing to sitting
In addition, the symptoms of low back pain are generally described by type of onset and duration:
- Sharp pain This type of pain usually comes on suddenly and lasts for a few days or weeks, and is considered a normal response of the body to an injury. The pain gradually disappears as the body heals.
- Subacute low back pain . Lasting between 6 weeks and 3 months, this type of pain is usually mechanical in nature (such as a muscle strain or joint pain), but is prolonged. At this point, a medical examination may be considered, and is advisable if the pain is severe and limits the ability to participate in activities of daily living, sleep, and work.
- Chronic back pain Generally defined as low back pain lasting more than 3 months, this type of pain is usually severe, does not respond to initial treatments, and requires a thorough medical examination to determine the exact source of the pain.
How is lumbar whiplash diagnosed?
Your doctor will likely start by requesting a complete medical history and conducting a complete physical exam to determine where you feel the pain. A physical exam can also determine if the pain is affecting your range of motion.
Unless you have worrisome or debilitating symptoms or neurological loss, your doctor will likely monitor the condition for a few weeks before testing you. This is because most low back pain resolves with simple self-care treatments.
Certain symptoms require further testing, including:
- Lack of bowel control
- Soft spot
- Fever
- Weightloss
Likewise, if your low back pain continues after home treatment, your doctor may want to order additional tests. Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs may be needed so your doctor can check for bone, disc, or back ligament and tendon problems.
Treatment for low back pain
Home care
Self-care methods are helpful for the first 72 hours after pain begins. If the pain does not improve after 72 hours of home treatment, you should call your doctor.
Stop your normal physical activity for a couple of days and ice appli ca lower back. Doctors generally recommend using ice for the first 48 to 72 hours and then switching to heat. Alternate ice and heat to relax your muscles. The RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is recommended within the first 48 hours.
Take over-the -counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen for pain relief.
Sometimes lying on your back causes more discomfort. If so, t and tried to sleep on your side with knees bent and a pillow between your legs. If you can comfortably lie on your back, place a pillow or rolled towel under your thighs to reduce pressure on your lower back.
A warm bath or massage can often relax the tight, knotted muscles in your back.
Medical treatment
Lumbar whiplash pain can occur with a number of different conditions, including muscle tension and weakness, pinched nerves, and misalignment of the spinal cord.
There are a number of possible medical treatments such as medications, medical devices, and physical therapy. Your doctor will determine the proper dosage and application of medications and medications based on your symptoms.
Some medications your doctor may prescribe include:
- Muscle relaxants
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Narcotics like codeine to relieve pain
- Steroids to reduce inflammation
- Corticosteroid injections
Your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy with massage, extension, strengthening exercises, and back and spine manipulation.
Surgery
Surgery is usually only an option when all other treatments fail. However, if there is loss of bowel or bladder control, or progressive neurological loss, surgery becomes an emergency option.
- A discectomy relieves pressure from a nerve root pressed by a bulging disc or bone spur. The surgeon will remove a small part of the lamina, a bony part of the spinal canal.
- A foraminotomy is a surgical procedure that opens the foramen, the bony hole in the spinal canal where the nerve root exits.
- Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) involves inserting a needle through a catheter into the disc and heating it for 20 minutes. This makes the disc wall thicker and reduces bulging and irritation of the inner disc nerve.
- A nucleoplasty uses a wand-like device that is inserted through a needle into the disk. Material can be removed from the inner disc. The device then uses radio waves to heat and shrink the tissue.
- Radiofrequency ablation or injury is a way of using radio waves to disrupt the way nerves communicate with each other. A surgeon inserts a special needle into the nerves and heats it, which destroys the nerves.
- A spinal laminectomy , also known as a spinal decompression, removes the lamina to enlarge the size of the spinal canal. This relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Can lumbar whiplash be prevented?
There are many ways to prevent low back pain. Practicing prevention techniques can also help lessen the severity of symptoms if you have a lower back injury.
Prevention involves exercising your abdominal and back muscles, losing weight if you are overweight, lifting objects correctly by bending your knees and lifting with your legs, and maintaining proper posture.
It is also interesting to sleep on a firm surface , sit in support chairs that are at the correct height, avoid high-heeled shoes and stop smoking. Nicotine causes degeneration of the spinal discs and also reduces blood flow.
