Lumbago is a general term used to describe pain in the lumbar region, or lower back. It is defined as a mild to severe pain or discomfort in the area of the lower back. Ranging in severity from acute (i.e. sudden and severe) to chronic (if it has lasted for more than three months) lumbago can occur in any age group, but is common among younger people who engage in hard physical work and also among people of retirement age.
If you are suffering from lumbago, some or all of the following symptoms may be present:
- Mild to severe pain across the lower part of the back which sometimes travels into the buttocks, the groin area or down into the back of the thigh. This pain is usually aggravated by movement.
- A stiff neck, which is caused by the muscles surrounding the spine going into spasm.
- Difficulty in bending forward and leaning back. Again this is caused by spasms in the muscles surrounding the spine.
- There may be a change in posture (e.g. leaning to one side) due to the severe pain and spasms in the lower back.
- There may sometimes be a tingling sensation or a feeling of numbness in the back, buttocks or down along one or both legs.
Identifying the exact cause of lumbago is very difficult. It can be caused by a variety of conditions such as a bulging disc, scoliosis (deformation of the natural curvature of the spine), osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) or, more rarely, by tumours or infection in the spinal area. The majority of those where another cause is not found are believed to be due to muscle sprain.
