Did you know four out of five people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives? This sheer prevalence makes lower back pain one of the most common reasons people seek the expertise of an orthopedic physician.
In some people, lower back pain is not severe and goes away quickly, while in others, lower back pain can be persistent and recurring. Sometimes people feel lower back pain after a specific event, such as bending to pick up something from the ground. Sometimes, pain begins on its own, and you may not know its cause.
The following information will help you get a good grasp of what your lower back pain could mean if you experience it often without any obvious cause, such as bending and overuse.
What Does Lower Back Pain Means?
Lower back pain can be indicative of mechanical issues and soft tissue injuries. Following are some of the many common reasons that may be causing lower back pain.
Muscle Strain and Ligament Sprain
Sprain or strain of the lower back can happen suddenly or develop over time with overuse. A lower back muscle strain occurs when a muscle stretches too far and tears. In contrast, a lower back ligament sprain happens when your ligament (the soft tissue that connects bones together) is affected by overstretching and tearing.
Even though doesn’t appear serious, muscle strain and ligament strain may cause severe acute pain. Strain and sprain of the lower back commonly occur when you lift something heavy, you suddenly fall, or you stay in a poor posture for a long time.
Structural Problems
Many structural problems can be the reason for your lower back pain. These structural problems are:
Lumbar herniated disc. Your discs act as a cushion between the small bones of your spine (vertebrae). The jelly-like center of these discs can bulge or sometimes ruptures and press on the nerves, causing nerve root pain.
Lumbar degenerative disc disease. Your discs may also get flattened with aging and offer less protection, as over time, the discs lose hydration. They can’t resist forces and transfer the forces to the disc wall, which may tear and cause pain.
Spinal stenosis. In spinal stenosis, your spinal column becomes too narrow for the spinal cord. The spinal cord is pinched, and you feel severe lower back pain. Narrowing of the spinal cord can happen at single or multiple levels in the lower back.
Scoliosis. This refers to the curving of the spine to the side, causing difficulty moving, stiffness, and low back pain.
Spondylolisthesis. This condition occurs when one vertebra of your spine slips over the adjacent vertebra (single for vertebrae). Aside from lower back pain, leg pain can also result from spondylolisthesis.
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis, can also cause wear and tear of the lower back joint, resulting in pain. Ankylosing spondylitis is another type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the lower back.
Other Nonstructural Causes of Lower Back Pain
The lower back pain may also be indicative of the presence of spine tumors, infection, and cancers (that cause lower back pain).
Kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysms (a condition in which the lower portion of the aorta becomes weakened and bulges) are among the many other conditions that may cause you to suffer from lower back pain often.
Back Pain Treatment in Dover, NJ
If you have lower back pain, the only right way to know what is causing you pain is to visit an orthopedic doctor at Orthopedic Associates of West Jersey to receive a diagnosis. Our providers will thoroughly assess your condition, offer a diagnosis, and devise a tailor-made treatment plan for your lower back pain as well as other orthopedic conditions.
For any queries or to schedule an appointment, call us today at (973) 989-0888 or request an appointment by filling out our convenient appointment request form.
We look forward to restoring your back health!
