How long does the pain last?

Apart from the long-lasting pain, the acute, initial pain of lumbago usually lasts only a few days, two at the most. Afterwards, the intensity of the pain diminishes somewhat. The further course of the pain then depends on whether it is a complicated or uncomplicated lumbago.

If the lumbago is uncomplicated, the pain can be expected to subside after a few days or weeks. In the case of a complicated lumbago, on the other hand, it can be assumed that recovery, and thus pain relief, will occur after a few weeks at the earliest. In general, the duration of the pain varies from individual to individual and depends on how severe or complex the lumbago is.

Since a more complex treatment is required for complicated lumbago, it takes much longer to reduce the pain than for uncomplicated lumbago. In addition, previous illnesses, the physical constitution and the individual perception of pain play a role with regard to the duration of the pain. If patients suffer from pre-existing diseases in the musculoskeletal area of the back, for example in the form of pre-existing herniated discs or orthopedic malpositions, the pain can last longer than 4 weeks, even in the case of uncomplicated lumbago. A pronounced muscular apparatus in the back area is also considered a positive factor in the treatment of pain after a lumbago, as the therapy brings faster results. Affected people who are generally less pain-sensitive are more likely to report freedom from pain than others, who are generally more snivelling and attribute greater importance to mild pain.

How long am I not allowed to do sports after lumbago?

The decision as to how long after lumbago no sport may be done is to be made individually. At the latest as soon as freedom from pain has been achieved, there is no reason for a ban on sports. However, it is recommended to strengthen the back muscles preventively in order to reduce the risk of another lumbago.

In addition, it is important to warm up the muscles properly and stretch them if necessary before starting a heavy sporting activity. After a lumbago it is, so to speak, an individual decision of each person affected, from when he or she can start with sports again.As soon as you feel fit enough and the sport does not aggravate the symptoms, this is not to be discouraged. It is sometimes reported that, despite existing complaints, those affected benefit from light endurance sport, as this leads to a relaxation of the muscles and thus to a reduction in symptoms.

Whether a 30-minute running session is helpful, however, depends on how well trained you were before the lumbago and whether you were a regular jogger before. If this is not the case, it is not recommended. Nevertheless, extreme stress caused by sports activities should definitely be avoided until you are free of complaints.

However, it is also wrong to stay in bed. A healthy middle course in the form of light stretching exercises or longer walks is considered beneficial in any case. An exact statement about the duration of the sports ban after a lumbago is therefore not possible.