What are the causes of neck and lower back pain?

I'm an office worker and I often experience pain in my neck and lower back. The pain radiates down to my buttocks when I sit for long periods. The doctor diagnosed it as muscle pain, but medication and acupuncture haven't helped.

What illness do I have and how can I improve? ( Thanh Duoc, Long An )

Reply:

Muscle pain is a condition where a group of muscles feels tight, sore, or cramping. This condition can occur due to many causes and has different treatment protocols. If you are an office worker who sits for long periods, incorrect posture may be the reason why the pain doesn't subside.

You should adjust your sitting posture so that the computer screen is at eye level to avoid bending your neck, sit with a straight back, avoid leaning too far back, and don't cross your legs... Stand up and walk around after every 15-20 minutes of work to relax your muscles and relieve pressure on the intervertebral discs. In addition to acupuncture, you should also try rehabilitation methods such as massage, waxing, and electrotherapy...

In addition, pain radiating down the buttocks when sitting for long periods can be a warning sign of a herniated disc. This is a condition where the nucleus pulposus of the disc protrudes from its original position, compressing the nerves, causing pain and reduced mobility. If left untreated, the condition can cause persistent pain, urinary and bowel incontinence, gradual atrophy of the limbs, and loss of mobility. If the pain persists and treatment does not improve it, you should seek specialized medical attention and have an MRI scan.

Dr. Vu Ngoc Bao Quynh
Orthopedic Trauma Center
Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

Readers can ask questions about musculoskeletal disorders here for doctors to answer.

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