Lower back pain is one of the most uncomfortable and disruptive issues that someone can go through. The pain can be intense and overwhelming. But what exactly causes this problem? How does it develop, and how might our daily habits make it worse? This article answers these questions.
One common cause of lower back pain is an injury, which might happen during sports or any activity that strains the lower back. Overusing your back can harm the muscles, joints, and ligaments in the area.
Another potential cause is pressure on the nerve roots in your spinal canal. This can happen if a disc in your lower back becomes herniated, possibly from lifting weights incorrectly, using certain machines at work, or playing a rough game of football. The key point is that overstraining or putting too much pressure on your lower back can trigger pain signals, indicating that something is wrong.
If you’re getting older, lower back pain might be due to osteoarthritis. This condition affects the small joints in the spine, leading to pain. Osteoarthritis can also change the way you walk, which might contribute to lower back discomfort.
Spondylolisthesis is another cause of lower back pain. This condition occurs when the vertebrae in your back slide over one another. Similarly, spinal stenosis, more common in older adults, can narrow the spinal canal and cause pain.
People who have been in car or bike accidents often report lower back pain, usually due to a direct impact on the spine. This kind of trauma can compress the spine and trigger pain. Severe cases of scoliosis or kyphosis, which change the spine’s natural alignment, can also lead to lower back pain.
For post-menopausal women with osteoporosis, compression fractures can be a source of lower back pain. Osteoporosis makes bones fragile, so even a minor incident like a sneeze can cause a fracture.
In less common cases, bacterial infections might be the root of lower back pain. Infections can reach the spine through the bloodstream or from nearby infected areas, injections, surgeries, or injuries. Spinal tumors, though rare, can also cause back pain due to abnormal growths on the bones or ligaments. Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis affecting the spine, is another potential cause.
These are some of the known causes of lower back pain. It’s best to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.