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Several causes of lower back pain have led to common ailments that people experience in their lives. The causes of lower back pain range from aging which changes your body and injuries that affect your lower back to certain medical conditions and more. This is why building your back muscle strength is essential to prevent pain and improve the posture of the body.
In this article, we will discuss the common causes of lower back pain along with the effective treatment as well as stretching for back pain.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
The general causes of lower back pain include:
1. Herniated Disc
Herniated disc is one of the most common causes of lower back pain. This discs within your back are prone to injury, which further increases with the aging body. The possible causes of herniated discs include degenerative changes or trauma over a period of time.
2. Muscle Strain or Sprain
The muscles and ligaments of your back can often tear or stretch because of excessive activity. Sudden movements can result in strain or sprain in your muscles. Symptoms include muscle spasms, stiffness, and pain in your lower back.
3. Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis puts pressure on your spinal nerves and spinal cord by closing down on the spaces in your spine. The most common cause of this condition is the degeneration of the discs between your vertebrae. Common causes of this condition include cramping, weakness, and numbness.
4. Sciatica
The sciatica nerve tends to connect your spine to the legs, and if the herniated disk presses against it, this can result in sciatica. Sciatica can cause foot or leg pain like a pointed sensation.
5. Spinal Curvature
Unusual spinal curvature is generally present at birth or is diagnosed by adolescence. These conditions include kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis. The unusual spinal curvature applies pressure to your vertebrae, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, which leads to poor posture and causes pain.
6. Others
Other conditions that cause musculoskeletal pain include arthritis, fibromyalgia, spondylosis, and spondylitis.
There are certain other health conditions which are causes of lower back pain including bladder and kidney problems, pregnancy, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, spinal infections, cancer, and spinal cord misalignment.
Symptoms of lower back pain include stiffness after waking up or due to inactivity, weakness, numbness, pain when bending down or lifting something heavy, pain in your glutes or hips, pain when you sit or rest for long periods of time, and more. If you experience severe back pain, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional.
Treatment for Lower Back Pain
Treatments for lower back pain include:
1. Home Remedies
Home remedies for lower back pain include heat therapy, cold therapy, a warm bath, and RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).
2. Medical Treatment
Medical treatments for lower back pain include medications like narcotics, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxers. It can also include physical therapy like strengthening exercises, stretching, massage, and spinal manipulation.
3. Surgery
Surgery like foraminotomy and discectomy is done in case of severe lower back pain. Surgery is usually carried out when all the other options for the treatments tend to fail.
Stretching for Back Pain
There are several yoga poses and exercises for lower back pain that you can incorporate into your daily routine. These include child poses, thread needle poses, knee to chest stretches, Superman, and more. These are low impact exercises that will build strength in your lower back muscles and prevent the chances of injury.
The aforementioned article discusses common causes of lower back pain that you should be aware of. Generally, acute back pain lasts for a few days to a few weeks, while chronic back pain can go on for longer than three months. If you have severe back pain, then it is recommended to immediately consult a medical professional.
