What are the symptoms of iliocostalis lumborum?
The most common symptom of iliocostalis lumborum is aching or burning sensation in your lower back, especially when walking. You may experience it even if you don’t walk very much. There might be some tingling, numbness, or weakness in your lower back. Sometimes there is severe pain with this condition. Other times, you feel no pain at all.
How does iliocostalis lumborum affect your life?
You may have trouble getting up from a chair or bed, which makes sitting down difficult. Your back may hurt while doing everyday activities such as lifting something heavy or carrying things around. You might get tired easily because of the pain in your lower back. If you sit for long periods of time, you might fall asleep due to fatigue and lack of energy.
How do I know if my lower back hurts?
If you have been experiencing these symptoms for a long period of time, then it means that you probably have iliocostalis lumborum. You need to see a doctor immediately so they can take a biopsy (a small tissue sample) to confirm whether or not you actually have iliocostalis lumborum. If you don’t see a doctor, the condition can worsen if left untreated for too long.
How can I reduce my lower back pain?
You should strengthen your lower back muscles through physical therapy exercises. You can also use over-the-counter medications to reduce pain and inflammation. Always remember to stay active as much as you can. Try not to sit or lie down for extended periods of time. This can cause more strain on your back muscles.
How is iliocostalis lumborum treated?
Your doctor will most likely tell you to rest for several days until the pain subsides. You can also use over-the-counter medication or prescribed pain relievers if necessary. Your doctor may also give you a corticosteroid shot to help with inflammation and pain. If you don’t get treatment, your iliocostalis lumborum can worsen until it becomes a medical emergency.
Why is iliocostalis lumborum so difficult to treat?
The cause of iliocostalis lumborum is unknown. However, you can most likely blame old age or other factors that come with it. Lying down for extended periods of time and inactivity can worsen your condition. Furthermore, it is more common in people who don’t move around much, such as senior citizens or those who stay indoors all day long.
Sources & references used in this article:
Electromyographic amplitude and frequency changes in the iliocostalis lumborum and multifidus muscles during a trunk holding test by JKF Ng, CA Richardson, GA Jull – Physical therapy, 1997 – academic.oup.com
Differences in electromyographic activity in the multifidus muscle and the iliocostalis lumborum between healthy subjects and patients with sub-acute and chronic low … by L Danneels, P Coorevits, A Cools… – European Spine …, 2002 – Springer
Muscle fibre direction of longissimus, iliocostalis and multifidus: landmark-derived reference lines. by JL De Foa, W Forrest, HJ Biedermann – Journal of anatomy, 1989 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Architecture of the rectus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, and erector spinae by SL Delp, S Suryanarayanan, WM Murray, J Uhlir… – Journal of …, 2001 – Elsevier
Electromyographical study of the iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis and spinalis thoracis muscles in various positions and movements. by AD Bankoff, AC Moraes, MG Salve… – Electromyography …, 2000 – europepmc.org
Muscle fibre directions of iliocostalis and multifidus: male-female differences. by HJ Biedermann, JL DeFoa, WJ Forrest – Journal of anatomy, 1991 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography to Assess Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on the Iliocostalis Lumborum Muscle: A Feasibility Study by J Gao, J Caldwell, K McLin, M Zhang… – Journal of Ultrasound in …, 2020 – Wiley Online Library
Electromyography response of the iliocostalis lumborum muscle during flexion, extension and rotation movements of the trunk in orthostatic and seated position. by AC De Moraes, AD Bankoff – Electromyography and clinical …, 2003 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
