How long does lumbago last, and how can it be treated?

Lumbago, or low back pain, is one of the most common spinal pathologies. In fact, according to the WHO, it affects 70% of the population. That’s why here at Instituto Clavel, we’d like to tell you more about it, including how long it lasts and how the pain can be treated.

There are many structures in the spine that can cause pain, so the causes of low back pain are usually very complex. That is why, when you go to a specialist, it is very important for you to describe as clearly as you can, the area where you feel the pain, how intense it is, and if any activities you do seem to be associated with it.  

Because the discomfort of lumbago is located in the lower back, the lumbar region, sometimes people may refer to it as pain in their kidneys. Lumbago can be either acute or chronic. In any case, it will be very important for you to be able to identify and describe the symptoms you are experiencing. We will try to find you the most appropriate treatment, and one that will allow you to get back to carrying out your normal daily activities.  

How long does lumbago last? 

As we mentioned above, lumbago can be classified as either acute or chronic, based on the degree of pain, and its duration. 

• Acute lumbago is short-lived. It may last for a few days or a couple of weeks, but if you do not treat the pain, your condition could worsen. This type of lumbago is characterized by intense pain that appears at a specific moment, and these crises of pain need to be treated with medication (pain relievers or muscle relaxants), physical therapy or surgery. The most frequent causes of this type of acute low back pain are sports injuries or herniated discs. 
• Chronic lumbago is a persistent pain that can linger for up to three months. The pain may be progressive, intensify over a period of time, and then become mild again. In most cases, finding the exact cause of this chronic back pain is very difficult. Usually, it is related to degenerative processes of the spine. A good diagnosis of the cause will determine which treatment is most appropriate. 

About lumbago and its symptoms

Factors that affect lumbago recovery time  

It is not possible to say specifically how long lumbago lasts, because low back pain can be short term, appearing and then going away in one or two days, or it can be long term and take a lifetime to get over it if the right therapeutic measures are not taken, along with using good posture.   

There are a number of factors that influence the time it takes to recover from lumbago. We describe some of them below:  

1. The degree of inflammation: Inflammation leads to tension of the nerve roots which causes the pain and irritation to increase. Inflammation is associated with various disorders located in the lumbar region, Therefore, and the greater the inflammation, the longer it takes the body to recover from lumbago. 
2. Which tissues are affected: Pain from lumbago affects several anatomical structures, starting with the muscles of the lower back. Other affected organs or tissues, such as visceral dysfunction resulting from gastrointestinal problems or kidney disease, can have a negative effect on these muscles, so, which tissues are affected can influence the length of recovery time. 
3. The degree of the patient’s physical activity: you might think that the most appropriate thing for pain relief would be to rest; in fact, you may feel you really need to take a break. However, inactivity reduces the increase in blood flow, which would help to make the tissue more flexible and to repair altered cellular functions as quickly as possible. You can be assured that the more conscientious and controlled movement you do, the shorter your lumbago will last. 
4. The patient’s emotional state: in previous articles we have mentioned the influence that a patient’s emotions can have on what they experience in relation to a spinal pathology. If the patient does not control their emotions in response to the physical stress, it can increase the pain in the lower back. 

When the pain extends beyond the lumbar area and reaches the lower limbs, we refer to this as radiating low back pain. In other cases, when the pain extends from the lumbar region to the heel or foot, it is known as sciatica. If you wonder which kind of doctor to see for help with this condition, ideally, it should be a traumatologist or neurosurgeon. 

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How to relieve lumbago 

Many experts consider low back pain to be the leading cause of disability worldwide, which explains why many patients want to know how to cure low back pain. To answer that question, in this section, we offer information on various treatment options that can be used to lessen the pain and other symptoms. But first, we’d like to talk about how to prevent it.  

You must make a habit of using good posture to keep your back healthy:  

• Sleep on your side or on your back. 
• Make sure your work table is at the appropriate height. 
• If you need to lift something heavy, do it facing forward and avoid turning or twisting your body. 
• Flex your knees when lifting anything off the floor. 

That being said, there are also several treatments available to relieve low back pain. We’ll begin by telling you about the most conservative treatments your doctor may suggest before opting for a surgical procedure.  

• Back brace: A lumbar brace or support belt can help you recover mobility in the area and significantly relieve the pain. However, it is essential that use of such a brace be supervised by a spine specialist. 
• Stretching for low back pain: These exercises are best done as part of a gradual, supervised program, with the aim of achieving a stronger and more flexible spine. You can do them at home, or with the help of a physical therapist, but in either case you must have the approval of your doctor. 
• Swimming for low back pain: Swimming can be beneficial as long as you do it at a moderate pace, and by all means, avoid using the butterfly stroke because it places great stress on the back. Being in the water allows you to exercise without bearing your body weight, so you can release the movement in your back without stress. 

You should always bear in mind that the type of treatment will depend on the causes of the low back pain, that is, whether it is caused by discogenic pain – as a result of disc degeneration – or by facet pain – originating in the facet joints, which are located in the posterior area of the vertebrae.  

If none of the conservative treatments mentioned above have the expected effect, the next step will be to employ techniques such as infiltrations or rhizolysis, and, lastly, if these do not have the desired result, surgical treatment may be considered.  

Surgical options include disc replacement surgery (ADR) or lumbar fusion. In the first, the damaged intervertebral disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc, and in the second, the affected vertebrae are joined together or immobilized. The option chosen will depend on the patient’s initial condition, however, whenever possible, at Instituto Clavel we are committed to the using least invasive alternative to reduce recovery time. In addition, we have the latest technology to increase accuracy and safety during the operation.  

Tips on recovery after lumbar spine surgery

If you need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.