Low back pain and causes

 

One of the most common pains that every person experiences at least once in his/ her life is low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain is generally the same among men and women, but is more common among the ages of 30 to 50 years.

The severity of back pain varies among people. The back pain can be mild or severe and its symptoms are acute or chronic.

Common causes of low back pain:

There are several causes for back pain; the most common causes are disc herniation and osteoarthritis of intervertebral joint or facet joint. In addition, low back pain is generally caused by excessive pressure or rapid and sudden rotating movements in the waist. In fact, the back pain begins when there is an excessive pressure on the vertebrae, such as inappropriate body displacement, or pushing heavy objects unconsciously.

 

The figure shows the correct lifting of the objects.

 

Mechanism of low back pain

Following an inappropriate pressure or sudden movement in the spine, if the person is not already prepared for this movement, or the person has not warmed up, therefore the spine has no ability to withstand pressure and soft tissue around the spine, including the muscles and ligaments are stretching. This stretch leads to micro tears of the soft tissue followed by pain and swelling in the injured area. Lumbar pain causes limitation in spinal movement. It causes stiffness and sometimes muscle spasm. If this injury left untreated, pain may persist for several months.

Generally, acute low back pain due to sudden injuries relieves with resting 2-3 days at home. Most of the low back pain is categorized in this type. But if the appropriate treatment is not initiated in this people, pain may be continuing for the several weeks or even months. Vertebral disk damage due to trauma and excessive lesion in the vertebrae or due to aging changes generally causes chronic back pain.

Other causes of low back pain

Other causes of low back pain include spinal deformities such as kyphosis, scoliosis or lateral spinal column deviation, spondylolisthesis, spinal canal stenosis, vertebral fracture and osteoporosis. Less common causes of lumbar pain are vertebrae infections, spinal tumors, and congenital anomalies in the lumbar spine.

 

What are the symptoms of low back pain?

Sometimes there is only pain in the lumbar region, but sometimes in addition to the lower back pain, the upper parts of the spine are affected. Low back pain may be accompanied with lower limb pain.  Burning and tingling pain is felt in the lower extremity; the buttocks, thighs or legs which generally is called the sciatic pain. Lumbar pain may be increased by bending and straightening. Sometimes it becomes more severe by standing and walking, and sometime it can be relieved by sitting.

**The best way to reduce pain is starting the appropriate treatment with expert physician.