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Do you suffer from lower back pain? Well, you are not alone.
Even if you do not have a prior injury, you may experience lower back pain. In short, it is a common problem. But how?
Typically, your back’s bottom part has five vertebrae, which is fewer compared to your mid-back and neck. These vertebrae are engaged in lots of heavy lifting.
Remember that the lower back is where the spine is connected to the pelvis. So, bearing weight on this part can cause a lot of stress and movement, leading to wear, tear, or even injury.
Keep reading to know the most common causes of lower back pain!
Back Injuries
Have you experienced a car accident or a bad fall? These situations can result in a lower back injury. Some people with back injuries experience sudden pain, while others are affected slowly over time.
Most people think that active people and athletes get injured because of their active lifestyle. However, that is not always the case. Even everyday tasks like picking up socks under your bed, holding a child, or carrying a bag can cause back injuries if done improperly.
Arthritis of the Spine
The spinal joints’ slow generation, also referred to as arthritis of the spine, is another common cause of lower back pain.
People experience wear and tear as they age, and the lower back normally acts up as they age. Inflammation occurs in the surrounding tissues as your cartilage begins to break down between the spinal joints. The thinning of cartilage and the inflammation can increase the friction in the joints, causing pain in the lower back.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when your spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the spinal nerves and cord.
This condition is due to disc generation between the human vertebrae. As a result, soft tissues or bony spurs compress the nerve roots or spinal cord.
Pressure on your spinal nerves causes numbness, weakness, and cramping. You may experience these symptoms in any body part. Most people with spinal stenosis experience worse symptoms when they walk or stand.
Facet Joint Damage
Facet joints, which are joints that connect the five vertebrae making up the lower back, experience large amounts of stress and compressive force. The cartilage breakdown in the cartilage can result in lower back pain over time.
Whether due to repeated overuse or poor posture, facet joint damage is typically caused by osteoarthritis. It can also lead to pain, muscle spasming, stiffness, and inflammation. Additionally, facet joint damage impinges on surrounding nerves and can result in sciatica.
Abnormal Spine Curvatures
Lordosis, scoliosis, and kyphosis are conditions that cause abnormal spine curvatures. Typically, these congenital conditions are initially diagnosed during early childhood to adolescence.
The spine’s abnormal curvature causes pain and poor posture since there is pressure on vertebrae, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Compression Fracture
Sudden lower back pain may occur when there is a fracture in the cylindrical vertebrae where your bone calves are on their own. This fracture is most common because of weak bones, osteoporosis, and age.
Disc Injury
There are discs found in your back, and they are prone to injuries—the risk of getting injured increases as people age. The disc’s outer part can herniate or tear.
A herniate disc, also known as ruptured or slipped disc, happens when the cartilage that surrounds the disc is pushing against the nerve roots or spinal cord. The cushion between the human spinal vertebrae may extend beyond its normal position.
As a result, nerve root compression occurs as it goes out through the vertebrae bones and from the spinal cord. Disc injury often happens after twisting your back or lifting something. Pain due to this injury typically lasts over 72 hours.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis causes your vertebrae in the spine to slip out its location. This condition leads to lower back pain. You may also experience pain in the leg.
There 5 different spondylolisthesis types. However, the most common are secondary to the facet joints’ mechanical instability, fracture, or defect of the pars. The pain is usually caused by nerve compression or instability.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
There is a joint called sacroiliac that connects the sacrum at the spine’s bottom to each pelvis side. It is a low-motion and strong joint that initially absorbs tension and shock between your lower and upper body.
You may feel pain in the sacroiliac joint when it becomes inflamed or if there is too little or too much joint movement.
Conclusion
The list above is the most cause of back pain, so there are many more reasons you experience that pain. If you feel lower back pain but believe none of the above factors causes it, you may consult your doctor for a better understanding. Remember that optimal treatment for this condition depends on accurate clinical diagnosis.
If you are looking for additional treatment options for lower back pain, you can check out clinical trials at Power.