Low back pain

Pain localized in the lower back, medically referred to as lumbago, is defined as occurring in the area beneath the chest down to the horizontal line that connects the buttocks. Often, lumbago is accompanied by sciatica, meaning the pain extends along the thigh and calf, reaching in some cases all the way to the toes.

Lumbago is a very common health issue in the general population, being the second most frequent pathological condition after the common cold. It is estimated that 65-80% of people in the general population will experience at least one episode of lumbago during their lifetime.

Depending on the duration of low back pain we have 3 forms:

• Acute lumbago, which lasts less than 6 weeks, accounts for 85% of all cases of lumbago.
• Subacute lumbago, which lasts from 6 to 12 weeks, accounts for 10% of all cases of lumbago.
• Chronic lumbago, which lasts more than 12 weeks, accounts for 5% of all cases of lumbago. Despite its low frequency, chronic lumbago presents a significant problem with serious psychosocial implications for the patient.

Regardless of the form of lumbago, a notable clinical characteristic is that it often recurs. Epidemiological studies have shown that in 75% of cases, lumbago recurs at least once within a year.

Of all the causes of lumbago, "mechanical" factors are the most common, responsible for 90% or more of all cases. When lumbago is due to a herniated disc or spondylolisthesis, it may be accompanied by sciatica due to pressure on a lumbar nerve root that leads to the sciatic nerve

Nonetheless, the specialist must assess many parameters before concluding that they are dealing with a "benign" non-specific lumbago, as other, rarer causes may pose particular risks to the patient if not identified.

Simple lubango treatment usually includes:

• Painkiller medication
• NSAID
• Muscle relaxants.
• Physiotherapy

In cases where the usual treatment does not seem to lead anywhere or only offers temporary improvement, it is worth turning to the method of regulatory medicine that this clinic advocates, supports, and believes in. The belief is that by reducing the overall inflammatory burden that each patient carries, we positively impact the functioning of the body's autonomic nervous system. In this way, the patient can manage their problems and therefore their pain more effectively on their own.

In rarer cases where, in addition to pain, there is accompanying muscle weakness that has been shown through imaging to be due to mechanical pressure on a nerve or nerve root, the damage to the body has progressed from functional to anatomical. In such situations, surgical intervention is considered as a solution to the problem.