Lumbalgia

What does lumbalgia mean?

Lumbalgia refers to back pain in the lumbar spine, which can occur both acutely and chronically.
This pain can be associated with restricted movement and can radiate into the legs.
If it lasts for more than a month, it is referred to as chronic lumbalgia, a common reason for visits to the doctor at any age.
The exact cause is often difficult to determine and can be triggered by muscle, ligament, disc or joint problems.
Incorrect movement or overexertion, such as heavy lifting, can also lead to lumbalgia.
A strategy of avoiding exercise is not recommended as it can lead to the pain becoming chronic.
Instead, moderate exercise is important for a healthy spine.

How is lumbalgia treated?

Back pain can have various causes, including wear and tear-related conditions and non-specific pain that requires a detailed clinical examination as it is not always detectable by imaging techniques such as X-ray or MRI.

Movement therapy

Exercise therapy is often the preferred treatment for lumbalgia, as lack of movement and incorrect strain can often exacerbate the symptoms.
This form of therapy involves repeated active or passive movements to improve health and maintain the condition in the long term.
It forms a central pillar of physiotherapeutic treatment for lumbalgia and is carried out both individually and in groups.
The training programs are individually tailored to the patient’s needs.

Regular exercise helps to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation in the back area, which helps to relieve pain.
The exercises can increase the mobility of the spine and the flexibility of the muscles, which significantly improves the function of the back.
In the long term, exercise therapy helps to prevent back pain as it counteracts lack of movement and incorrect strain.

The therapy sessions are determined on the basis of a specialist diagnosis that takes into account the individual needs and limitations of each patient.
The training programmes can include exercises to strengthen the back muscles, improve posture and stabilize the spine.
Patients are instructed to carry out the exercises they have learned independently at home in order to support the success of the therapy.

The NUHR Medical Center offers a comprehensive range of therapies for back pain that are specially tailored to the individual needs of patients.
The NUHR Med Concept places particular emphasis on the individuality, intensity and regularity of the therapies.
This includes specific approaches such as Dorn and Breuss spinal therapy and Tilscher back training.

Specialized therapeutic approaches

The NUHR Medical Center takes an integrative approach to the treatment of lumbar pain, combining physiotherapy, occupational therapy and complementary medicine methods as well as mental support.
The aim is not only to treat symptoms, but also to address the underlying causes and promote long-term health.

Arsonvalization is a special form of electrotherapy that goes back to Jacques-Arsène d’Arsonval.
This therapy method uses high-frequency currents to apply targeted stimuli to the patient’s skin.
A special device with a brush-shaped electrode similar to a shower head is used to stimulate blood flow to the skin and surrounding tissue.
This improves the supply of nutrients and oxygen, while the stimulus provided by arsonvalization can help to relieve pain.
It influences the transmission of pain signals and can relieve muscle tension.
The electrical impulses also stimulate the skin receptors, which can stabilize muscle tension.

Treatment is carried out under the supervision of our trained therapists, who adjust the frequency and intensity of the high-frequency currents to the patient’s individual needs.
The positioning of the electrode over the body region to be treated influences the effectiveness of the therapy, whereby patients may feel a slight tingling sensation or muscle twitching during the treatment, depending on the form of therapy.
The aim of arsonvalization is not only to relieve acute symptoms, but also to improve the long-term health and functionality of the affected area by supporting the body’s natural healing processes.

In addition to the use of arsonvalization, the NUHR Medical Center also uses kinesio taping to support muscle tension and promote stabilization of the affected areas.

Outpatient and inpatient pain therapy

For patients with chronic pain or specific back problems, the NUHR Medical Center offers both inpatient and outpatient pain therapy programs.
These programs support rehabilitation and promote a pain-free future through targeted movement exercises and holistic therapy approaches.

Is lumbalgia a slipped disc?

Lumbalgia and slipped discs are two common causes of back pain in the lumbar spine, but with different origins and effects on the body.

Lumbalgia is a term that refers to pain in the lower back.
It can occur suddenly or be chronic and often has a significant impact on quality of life.
The causes of lumbalgia are varied and can range from muscle tension and overloading to degenerative changes in the spine.
Typically, lumbalgia is caused by strain in everyday life, unusual movements, prolonged sitting or standing in awkward positions or a general weakening of the back muscles.
These complaints can be improved by simple measures such as exercise, physiotherapy and ergonomic adjustments.

A herniated disc, on the other hand, is a special anatomical change in the disc between the vertebrae of the spine.
These discs normally act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to move flexibly.
In the event of a herniated disc, the soft core of the disc protrudes outwards through a tear or protrusion.
This can lead to the herniated disc pressing on neighboring nerve roots or the spinal cord, causing severe pain in the back and often also in the legs.
This pain, known as sciatic pain, can be stabbing, burning or electrifying and in some cases can lead to numbness or muscle weakness.

The main difference between lumbalgia and disc herniation lies in the cause and specific nature of the back pain.
Lumbalgia is more of a non-specific term that describes a variety of back pain in the lower back, while a herniated disc is a specific anatomical change.
However, lumbalgia can also be a symptom of a herniated disc, especially if the pain is caused by the pressure of the disc on the nerve structures.

Conservative approaches such as exercise therapy to strengthen the back muscles, physiotherapy, posture training and pain-relieving measures such as anti-inflammatory medication or injections can be used to treat lumbalgia and herniated discs.
In more severe cases of a slipped disc where conservative measures are not sufficient, surgery may be considered to relieve the pressure on the nerves.

What is acute lumbalgia?

Acute lumbalgia is a sudden form of back pain in the lower back that usually lasts less than six weeks.
It often occurs after abrupt movements, overexertion or muscle injuries and is often colloquially referred to as “lumbago”.
Although this type of back pain is very painful, it does not usually lead to permanent damage.

In the case of acute lumbalgia, it is important to take a detailed medical history in order to clarify the onset of pain and identify additional factors that could be influencing the pain.
Such an analysis helps to rule out chronic lumbalgia, in which the back pain can last longer than 12 weeks without interruption.

The subacute form, which can last between six and 12 weeks, lies in the transitional area between acute and chronic lumbalgia.
Chronic lumbalgia, on the other hand, is defined as pain that persists for more than 12 weeks.
These forms can be further subdivided into different categories, such as non-specific chronic lumbalgia, which has no clear cause, and specific chronic lumbalgia, which can be caused by specific pathologies such as spinal trauma, tumors, infections or inflammatory diseases.
Radiculopathy, another category, describes pain caused by nerve root compression in the lumbar spine.
It is important to distinguish between acute, subacute and chronic lumbalgia when choosing the appropriate treatment strategy.

What is the difference between lumbago and lumbalgia?

Lumbago and lumbalgia are both terms that describe back pain in the lumbar spine, but are used with slightly different connotations.
Lumbago is often used to describe a sudden, shooting pain in the lower back.
Typically, lumbago is accompanied by severe tension and cramps.
It tends to describe the acute onset of back pain, which can often be triggered by simple movements such as lifting heavy objects or sudden twisting movements.
People often experience lumbago as “lumbago”, which can restrict movement and cause severe pain.

The term lumbalgia, on the other hand, refers to general pain in the lumbar spine, which can tend to have a more chronic course.
Lumbalgia tends to describe continuous or recurring symptoms in the lower back.
It is a generic term for all types of non-specific back pain in this area, regardless of whether it is acute or chronic.

Nowadays, the terms lumbago and lumbalgia are often used interchangeably to describe general back pain in the lower back.
They serve as generic terms for pain and complaints that can relate to the muscles, bones, nerves or other structures in the lumbar spine.

However, if the sciatic nerve is affected and the pain radiates from the lumbar spine to the legs, this is referred to as lumboischialgia or sciatica.
This form of back pain is often caused by herniated discs, narrowing of the spinal canal or other compression of the sciatic nerve.
Lumboischialgia often shows additional symptoms such as tingling, numbness or weakness in one or both legs, depending on the severity of the nerve compression.