Causes of Low
Back Pain
What causes LOWER
BACK PAIN?
As you age, your bone
strength and muscle
elasticity and tone
tend to decrease. The
discs begin to lose
fluid and
flexibility, which
decreases their
ability to cushion
the vertebrae.
Back pain can occur
anywhere in the back
most common is the
lower back when for
example, you lift
objects too heavy or
overstretches,
causing a sprain,
strain, or spasm in
one of the muscles or
ligaments in the
back.
If the spine becomes
overly strained or
compressed, a disc
may rupture or bulge
outward. This rupture
may put pressure on
one of the more than
50 nerves rooted to
the spinal cord that
control body
movements and
transmit signals from
the body to the
brain. When these
nerve roots become
compressed or
irritated, this
results to back pain.
Low back pain may
come from a nerve or
muscle irritation or
bone lesions. Most
low back pain follows
injury or trauma to
the back, but pain
may also be caused by
degenerative
conditions such as
arthritis or disc
disease, osteoporosis
or other bone
diseases, viral
infections,
irritation to joints
and discs, or
congenital
abnormalities
in the spine.
Obesity, smoking,
weight gain during
pregnancy, stress,
poor physical
condition, posture
inappropriate for the
activity being
performed, and poor
sleeping position
also may contribute
to low back pain.
Additionally, scar
tissue created when
the injured back
heals itself does not
have the strength or
flexibility of normal
tissue. Buildup of
scar tissue from
repeated injuries
eventually weakens
the back and can lead
to more serious
injury.
Occasionally, low
back pain may
indicate a more
serious medical
problem. Pain
accompanied by fever
or loss of bowel or
bladder control, pain
when coughing, and
progressive weakness
in the legs may
indicate a pinched
nerve or other
serious condition.
People with diabetes
may have severe back
pain or pain
radiating down the
leg related to
neuropathy. People
with these symptoms
should contact a
doctor immediately to
help prevent
permanent damage
What is Lower Back
Pain?
Low back pain (LBP)
is often described as
sudden, sharp,
persistent, or dull
pain felt below the
waist. LBP is very
common and affects
the majority of
people at some point
during their life.
Low back pain is most
commonly caused by
muscle strain
associated with heavy
physical work,
lifting or forceful
movement, bending or
twisting, awkward
positions, or
standing in one
position too long.
Any of these
movements can
exacerbate a prior or
existing back
disorder.
Other conditions that
can cause low back
pain include spinal
stenosis, arthritis
(osteoarthritis),
spinal infection
(osteomyelitis),
spinal tumors (benign
and malignant),
spondylolisthesis,
and vertebral
fractures (e.g. burst
fracture).
Low back pain is
either acute or
chronic. Acute LBP
may begin suddenly
with intense pain
usually lasting less
than 3 months.
Chronic pain is
persistent long-term
pain, sometimes
lasting throughout
life. Even chronic
pain may present
episodes of acute
pain.
Other symptoms
include localized
pain in a specific
area of the low back,
general aching,
and/or pain that
radiates into the low
back, buttocks, and
legS.
Sometimes pain is
accompanied by
neurological symptoms
such as numbness,
tingling, or
weakness.
Neurological symptoms
requiring immediate
medical attention
include bowel or
bladder dysfunction,
groin or leg weakness
or numbness, severe
symptoms that do not
subside after a few
days, or pain
prohibiting everyday
activities.
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