Lower Back Pain Causes

 Causes Lower back pain is a common concern, affecting most people at some point in their lifetime. Though it is not a disease, lower back pain can be either acute or chronic in its clinical presentation.    Lower back pain is a musculoskeletal disorder which involves the lumbar vertebrae and associated soft tissue structures like muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the intervertebral discs. The pain can be either acute, i.e. short term that generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks, or chronic, that persists for more than three months. The pain is often progressive and can become severe if left untreated. It is a neurological ailment that affects both men and women equally. Shooting or stabbing muscle pain, restricted flexibility, disability to stand straight, and numbness in the legs are some common signs of lower back pain.  Causes of Lower Back Pain  Although common causes of lower back pain may vary from a simple injury to some severe nerve root syndromes like sciatica, majority of the cases can be traced to one of the following severe causes. Muscle strain is the most common lower back pain cause, which occurs due to sudden stressful injury to the lower back region, causing stretching or tearing of the muscles/tendons/ligaments of the lower back region. Lower back pain causes due to age-related degeneration usually occur between the ages 30 and 50. As we grow old, our bone strength, muscle elasticity and tone tend to reduce. This happens when the intervertebral discs start losing their fluid and flexibility which diminishes their ability to cushion the vertebrae. Calcium deficiency and muscle weakening due to aging are two of the most common causes in women. A ruptured intervertebral disc or a herniated disc is another cause for lower back pain. It usually occurs when the spinal discs degenerate or grow thinner and bulge out of the central cavity, pushing against a nerve root. Spinal stenosis occurs when the intervertebral discs lose moisture and volume and the spacing between the discs narrows. This narrowing exerts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots that causes pain and numbness in the legs as well as shoulders. Facet joints are the joints at the back of each vertebra the hold the vertebra together. These joints enable the back to twist and bend but if strained by a sudden jerk it can cause severe back pain. Cauda equina syndrome is another cause in which the disc material extends into the spinal canal, which contracts the nerves. The person may experience severe pain, loss of sensation and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Scoliosis is a condition in which a person's spine curves side to side. It is an abnormal spinal development which causes occasional but severe lower back pain. Osteoarthritis, obesity, smoking, wrong body or sleeping postures are some of the other causes for lower back pain. Proper diagnosis of the causes of lower back pain is essential for the right treatment for lower back pain. Therefore, lower back pain causes due to kidney infections, bladder infections, ovarian disorders, appendicitis, etc should only be treated under a doctor's supervision. Sleeping with the right body posture, avoiding lifting heavy weights, keeping your back straight while standing or sitting, regularly exercising your back and abdominal region are some preventive measures that a person can follow to avoid lower back pain. Sleeping with a pillow under the knees, keeping your back warm, taking complete bed rest for 2-4 days are some simple home remedies for lower back pain. But if the pain is severe one can go for medications like Ibuprofen, Advil, Acetaminophen, Tylenol, etc that can provide some back pain relief.  These causes and prevention tips will surely give you a better understanding of different factors that lead to backache and the various measures that can be employed to avoid them. Hence, with proper lower back exercises, a balanced diet and body mechanics, you can keep your back trouble free throughout your life


By Kanika Khar
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