Lower back pain is a medical condition that millions of people experience in their lifetimes. In fact, it’s one of the most common chronic pain conditions that people live with for many years of their lives.
Reasons for Pain in the Lower Back
If you are experiencing lower back pain, there could be many reasons behind it. Below are 10 of the most common causes of lower back pain:
1. Injury
An injury caused by a fall, playing a sport, or a car accident is a frequent cause of back pain. When the body experiences blunt-force trauma, it can result in an injury.
Back pain can be caused by various types of traumatic incidents, but the pain often goes away on its own. So it’s important to pay attention to how long the pain lasts.
If you experience severe and/or long-lasting pain, go see an orthopedic doctor immediately. If you are in a car accident and you continue to feel pain more than 48 hours after the crash, be sure to see an orthopedic doctor, because there may be an internal injury that needs medical attention.
2. Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica can happen for many reasons including bone spurs, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis.
Typically, sciatica affects the lower back and one buttock and leg. The most common symptoms are inflammation, numbness, and pain.
3. Scoliosis
Scoliosis happens when the spine has a sideways, slightly S-shaped curve, instead of going straight down the middle of the back like normal. Mild scoliosis causes few symptoms, but severe scoliosis can be disabling. Individuals who have scoliosis (even a mild version) are more likely to experience back pain than individuals without the condition.
4. Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis becomes more common with age, as most people with the condition are above the age of 50. This condition involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, which ends up causing pain, numbness, or a burning sensation in the back, buttocks, and legs.
5. Herniated Disc
A herniated disc happens when a vertebral disc in the spine ruptures, and some of the soft interiors spill out. When this material spills onto the adjacent nerves, it can cause a lot of pain.
A herniated disc can happen anywhere along the spine, but it is particularly common in the lumbar spine – which is made up of five vertebrae in the lower back. The most common symptoms include pain, numbness, and tingling. It usually heals on its own, but severe cases may require surgery to repair the damaged disc.
6. Degenerative Disc Disease
This condition can happen as we age, and it’s most common the neck and lower back. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and weakness in the lower back.
Degenerative disc disease can also cause shooting pain going from the back to the legs. There is no cure, but a physician can prescribe medicine that can help control the symptoms.
7. Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that involves inflammation in the joints. Arthritis pain starts in one joint of the body and can gradually spread to other joints.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and many of them can cause back pain. The hinge-like facet joints in the spine connect the adjacent vertebrae, and these spinal joints can develop arthritis.
8. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that happens when bones lose significant bone mass. It often goes undetected until bone fractures or breaks. Individuals with this condition experience back pain because the bones in their spine weaken and can’t take the same pressure they used to.
9. Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves in the lower back are a common cause for back pain. A pinched nerve happens when abnormal pressure is put on a certain nerve.
The pressure strains the nerve, causing pain, tingling, or weaknesses in the area. A pinched nerve can also radiate pain to other parts of your body, like your legs or hands.
10. Poor Posture
Poor posture is actually one of the major causes of lower back pain. Slouching when sitting adds excessive pressure and strain on different parts of the back. Poor posture can also make existing back pain worse.
Sitting with correct posture helps distribute pressure throughout the back, so no individual part of the back has to take extra strain.
Who Can Help with My Lower Back Pain?
Back pain can get in the way of enjoying life to the fullest. If you are interested in learning about treatments to reduce or eliminate your pain, Louisiana Pain Care is the place for you.
With a wealth of knowledge on pain management and state-of-the-art treatments, the caring physicians at Louisiana Pain Care can create a custom pain management plan for you. Contact us today by calling (318) 323-6405 to make an appointment at one of our locations in Ruston or Monroe. We look forward to helping you enjoy a more pain-free lifestyle.