The 10 Main Causes of Lower Back Pain
With over 4 million Australians experiencing back pain, most of us know what it’s like to experience the agony of a sore lower back. And it’s no surprise that this kind of pain can significantly interfere with your day-to-day lives, making even simple tasks like getting out of bed in the morning a struggle.
As it turns out, the causes of lower back pain are quite common and often a debilitating issue. Your lower back is one of the most important parts of your body – it’s what keeps you upright, supports your posture, and helps you move.
It is the pillar of your body and preserving its structural integrity is key to your overall health. Knowing what causes lower back pain and what to do if you experience it is vital to keeping your body healthy.
Nociceptive vs Neuropathic Pain: What's The Difference
Nociceptive or mechanical pain is caused by the stimulation of nociceptors, which are nerve endings found throughout the body. Nociceptive pain is initiated by an event or trauma such as a muscle strain, joint sprain, or surgery. Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, is caused by injury or impairment of the nervous system itself, such as sciatica, herniated disc, or facet joint damage.
Knowing what type of pain you are experiencing can help your doctor accurately diagnose the source of your pain and formulate a treatment plan that is tailored for you.
What Causes Lower Back Pain?
There are many causes for lower back pain, from muscle strain to a herniated disc. Here are the ten most common causes:
1. Muscle or Ligament Strain
Strained muscles and ligaments are one of the most common causes of lower back pain. The strain can be caused by any number of activities such as lifting heavy objects, repetitive motion, a sudden wrong move, or even poor posture and sneezing.
2. Bulging or Ruptured Discs
Discs are the soft cushioning between your vertebrae (small spinal bones), and when they are bulging or ruptured, the vital peripheral nerves that run from the spinal cord can become impinged, causing pain, numbness, and tingling. The root cause of this condition is often caused by wear and tear over time, but can also be caused by sudden trauma.
3. Herniated Disc
While bulging discs can cause painful symptoms, they may not be as serious as a herniated disc. A herniated disc is a condition where a tear in the outer layer of the disc causes it to bulge and leak its gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus, into the spinal canal. Again, the discs between the vertebrae bulge and impinge on the spinal cord or surrounding nerves, leading to inflammation and severe pain in the lower back, numbness, and tingling.
4. Facet Joint Damage
Facet joint damage occurs when the cartilage between the joints of your spine degenerates or is injured, causing pain in the lower back. This joint damage can be caused by a traumatic injury, osteoarthritis, or wear and tear over time.
5. Compression Fracture
One of the primary causes of lower back pain is a vertebral compression fracture, which occurs when the vertebrae break cracks under a compressive force. It predominantly affects people with osteoporosis, where weakened bones are more susceptible to fracture.
6. Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause increased pressure on the nerves in your lower back. This condition is most often caused by age-related wear and tear, but can also be caused by trauma. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include numbness, tingling, and shooting pain in the lower back and legs. However, the manifestation of these symptoms can vary depending on the spinal level affected.
7. Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis, pronounced spon-dee-lo-lis-thee-sis, is a condition in which one vertebra slips out of position and onto the vertebra below it. This misalignment can cause nerve impingement, leading to lower back pain.
8. Arthritis
A more common cause of lower back pain is arthritis. The most common type of arthritis in the lower back is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease caused by the age-related breakdown of the cartilaginous tissue between your vertebrae. Osteoarthritis’ counterpart, rheumatoid arthritis, is a chronic autoimmune condition that tends not to target axial joints such as your lower back. It presents itself as an inflammation of the finger, elbows, knees, and toe joints and is more common in younger individuals.
9. Osteoporosis
The weakening of bones due to a lack of calcium and other minerals is another common cause of lower back pain. Osteoporosis affects the majority of adults over the age of 50, especially postmenopausal women, leading to an increased risk of fractures and even painful lower back.
10. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine that can cause lower back pain and another symptom due to the misalignment of the vertebrae. Scoliosis is most common in young adults and adolescents but can affect people at any age. It is most commonly seen in children, adolescents, and young adults, but can affect people of all ages.
The Link Between Lumbar Multifidus Dysfunction and Lower Back Pain
In addition to the causes of lower back pain listed above, a condition called lumbar multifidus muscle dysfunction (LMMD) is increasingly becoming a factor in lower back pain. LMMD is a dysfunction of the multifidus muscles, which are deep stabilizing muscles located around your spine. When these skeletal muscles atrophy (weaken and shrink), with intramuscular fat deposits, there is dysfunction in pain inhibition. This leads to increased sensitivity to pain and reduced stability of the lumbar spine, resulting in lower back pain.
Palliative vs Restorative Treatment: Which is Better?
The question of what type of treatment is best for lower back pain is a difficult one to answer. While both palliative and restorative treatments are effective in relieving lower back pain, they serve different purposes.
Palliative treatments improve your quality of life by providing temporary pain relief. However, they do not treat the underlying condition that is causing the pain. On the other hand, restorative treatments have the goal of addressing and correcting the underlying condition causing the pain thus improving function and providing relatively longer-term relief.
The most effective treatment for lower back pain is one that combines both palliative and restorative treatments.
ReActive8 Paves the Way for Chronic Lower Back Pain Relief
Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments out there, but knowing what causes lower back pain and taking preventive measures can reduce your chances of developing it. Incorporating exercise, maintaining good posture, and making sure you lift properly can help protect your back and prevent lower back pain.
In cases where lower back pain is chronic with no relief in sight, ReActiv8® might be the answer. It is safe, minimally invasive, and has been proven to provide long-lasting relief from chronic lower back pain.
Disclaimer : This article is for general information purposes only, and does not contain any medical advice, opinion, or recommendations. Before trying any new exercise, physical activity, therapy, or treatment, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional to ensure that the new activity is appropriate for you.
