Medical expert of the article
New publications
Prevention and prognosis of severe back pain
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025

All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.

Since we are not talking about a specific disease, but about a characteristic symptom of various pathologies of the spine and internal organs, any predictions can only be made in connection with certain diseases. A properly selected therapy regimen helps to alleviate the painful symptom.
But it is important to understand that pain relief does not solve the problem that causes pain. To achieve a lasting effect, a comprehensive approach to treating the underlying disease is needed, not just one of its symptoms. Even if the pain goes away earlier, doctors recommend completing the prescribed course of treatment to prevent recurrence of the torment.
Forecast
The worst prognosis, of course, is for pain caused by malignant tumor processes, because severe pain in this case occurs already in the last stages of cancer, when the survival rate is low. Other diseases can be dealt with or at least their development can be significantly slowed down, maintaining the ability to work as long as possible. But again, this is only possible with a comprehensive approach to treatment, proper nutrition, and an active lifestyle.
Back pain is considered a fairly common symptom that can occur at any age. Most often, it is caused by excessive loads on the spine, which changes its shape and structure, which is reflected in medical diagnoses. Factors that provoke the appearance of pain syndrome are considered to be a sedentary lifestyle, a diet depleted of vitamins and minerals, exposure to stress, improper walking, sitting, standing, lifting weights. Even an incorrect body position during sleep can cause back pain, which does not allow you to rest normally and enjoy life.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]
Prevention
What can be done to avoid such a fate, which negatively affects the quality of life of a person? Let's consider the main measures for preventing spinal and lumbar pain:
- We are taught to watch our posture while sitting since school. And this is no coincidence, because the health of the spine is at stake. You should not lean forward or back too much at the table, because this does not relieve the spine, but on the contrary, increases the already increased load on it.
Small arm movements and stretches, which can be done every 15-20 minutes without getting up from the chair, help relieve back fatigue and associated pain. But after an hour of sedentary work, it is recommended to do a good warm-up for the whole body while standing on your feet.
- It is very important to watch your posture not only while sitting, but also while walking or standing. With correct posture, the spine remains straight and the load on the vertebrae is distributed evenly. Let's try to stand with your back to the wall, pressing your shoulder blades and buttocks against it and keeping your head straight. This is what good posture should be like, which you need to remember and try to maintain.
If, for some reason, a person has to stand for a long time, he or she needs to find a way to transfer the load to both sides of the body, changing the supporting leg, relieve the spine by briefly leaning on something with your hand or back, and do some small warm-up exercises that allow the back to relax.
- We need to be careful about how we lift and carry heavy objects. Usually we bend over and lift the load from the floor. This is absolutely not recommended. It is better to approach an object lying on the floor, squat down, take the load with your arms bent at the elbows and rise, straightening your legs, but not bending your back. This way, the entire load will fall on your legs, and your spine will not be damaged.
If you need to carry a load somewhere, it is better to divide it into 2 equal parts and carry it in two hands. If this is not possible, you will have to change hands as often as possible.
- Now, regarding night rest. It turns out that for the health of the back, it is very important how we sleep and get out of bed. Many people know that you need to sleep on a fairly hard mattress that prevents the back from bending. However, as well as the fact that the thickness of the pillow should correspond to the width of the shoulder. But not everyone knows about the fact that complete relaxation of the spine is possible only when lying on your side. Nevertheless, doctors recommend the fetal position for sleeping, which ensures complete rest and sleep for at least 6 hours.
Getting out of bed should also be done according to all the rules. After waking up, it is recommended to stretch well in bed 2-3 times, then lower your legs to the floor and only then raise your back, leaning on the bed with your hands. This should be done slowly, and not grab the bed as if there was a fire.
- The spine's biggest enemy is considered to be physical inactivity, and moderate physical activity is its best friend. Therefore, you should not neglect morning exercises, back warm-ups during the day, and evening jogging. Sedentary mental work must be alternated with physical labor. The main thing is not to overexert yourself, not to lift more than the age norm, and not to make sudden movements. Many problems with the spine can be avoided by playing amateur sports, going to the gym, and regularly enjoying active outdoor recreation.
- It is also necessary to pay attention to the diet. A deficiency of magnesium and B vitamins in the body will have the most negative effect on the functioning of the nervous system (hence neurological symptoms), and a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus will affect the condition of the bones, which will become less strong, prone to fractures and degenerative changes. Vegetables and fruits, given to us by nature itself, are valuable sources of vitamins and microelements necessary for the body, so they must be on the menu in sufficient quantities. And dairy and fermented milk products are an opportunity to replenish the level of calcium in the body. So they should not be neglected either.
- Since back pain can be caused by various diseases that do not always concern the spine, you need to monitor your health in general, and not just the sensations in your back. If you experience various suspicious symptoms in your chest, abdomen, back, or lower back, you do not need to wait until they become more pronounced. The earlier the disease is detected, the less harm it will cause to the body, the easier it will be to treat, and the less likely it is that severe back pain will occur.
Even if you take preventive measures, it is not always possible to avoid the appearance of a painful symptom. But it is very important to understand that correct and timely diagnosis and treatment of severe back pain can make it more effective. But the results of self-diagnosis and the use of drugs and prescriptions that are not relevant for the existing pathology are often disappointment and wasted time.