Lower back pain is second only to the common cold as the most frequent reason for missing work. It has many causes, and many options for treatment. You are always your own best advocate in regard to your health, so it pays to educate yourself about the likely causes of your back pain, and the various ways to treat it. Here are some ideas to help you empower yourself to gain the upper hand on lower back pain.

One fairly common cause is a ruptured disk, also called a herniated disk. The disk is the spongy material between the spinal vertebras. It acts as a cushion, or buffer, to absorb impact to the spine, much like the shock absorber in a car. When a disk gets pushed out of place, it creates pressure on the spine’s nerves next to the disk’s proper location. Symptoms may include jolts or shock sensations traveling up the spine into the neck; weak muscles; numbness or tingling; and even bladder or bowel problems.

Lower back pain often occurs as the result of lifting heavy objects, or twisting the back too abruptly. Often the lower back stress brought on by lifting can be minimized by stretching first, and then bending in the knees to help provide sufficient lifting support in the lower body.

When any severe pain comes on, write down any notes you can on the specifics of your condition. For instance, does a certain motion increase the pain? Does deep breathing intensify your lower back pain? Also, recall what you might have been doing for a day or so prior to the onset of severe pain, especially any activities outside of your usual routine. This may help with an accurate medical diagnosis of your condition, thus providing you with the most effective treatment, especially if you are being examined for severe lower back pain for the first time.

Of course, severe pain feels overwhelming, and may even cause secondary symptoms such as depression, fatigue, and anxiety. Bringing someone with you to your appointment can reduce your stress, and can aid your memory later on. Don’t be afraid to slow down your medical care provider so that you can take accurate and complete notes. Also, it is fine to repeat any advice back to your medical professional to be sure that you understand his or her instructions. Barring any rare and unusual conditions, specific instructions for exercise are likely to be a key part of your lower back treatment plan. So be sure to follow any directions, and do the exercises as often as advised.

Sometimes, however, severe lower back pain is misdiagnosed. Likewise, any exercises prescribed should bring relief rather than increase pain. So if you follow your treatment plan, and the pain does not reduce within a reasonable amount of time (say, a few weeks, and allowing for a follow-up appointment), then you may want to get a second opinion. If you are seeing a doctor or physical therapist, you might even want to try or add on a different kind of therapy, such as chiropractic or acupuncture, to see if that provides greater relief.