Call it inactive activity or a sedentary lifestyle, you can work a lot seated in one position, but you're most certainly not working your back. Other than that, it could be a fall or any other health condition- these and more, are causes of that searing pain in your lower back. It can come and go, awaken you at night, leave you helpless and crying for days, and even incapacitate you to the point where you're immovable. Scary picture, isn't it?
You would not want to be counted among the 80% of Americans who suffer with back pain at least once in their lives. Yes, Back pain is one of the most common medical problems (Only a common cold causes more missed work). It's difficult, it's frustrating, it's debilitating and it's unbearably painful!
Causes of Back Pain
Lumbar Muscle Strain: If you feel severe, constant pain in your lower back, it could be because of strained back muscles. The pain emanates from stretched or torn ligaments. Get yourself evaluated by a doctor. Mostly, the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain strike in unexpected situations. You were probably involved in an activity that places the back at risk, such as, lifting heavy objects, twisting your back or any sudden movement involving the back. Other contributing factors are obesity, smoking, poor conditioning, and smoking.
Ruptured or Herniated Disc: Spinal vertebras have disc like cushions that sit between them. A herniated disc is a disc that is pushed outside its normal position. This bulging disc can pinch the spinal nerve and the spinal cord. This can be a result of a fall or an accident, or may occur gradually with repetitive straining of the spine. Symptoms include electric shock pain, tingling and numbness, muscle weakness, and bowel or bladder problems.
Discogenic Back pain: This condition involves the degeneration, or wearing out, of the lumber intervertebral discs. The cause of this is not well known, and it is considered a "degenerative" or aging process. While there are no symptoms at all, some people suffer significant pain. It is possible for discogenic back pain to improve with time and some simple treatments.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the space surrounding the spinal cord or the spinal nerves causes a condition called Spinal Stenosis. The sensory and motor spinal nerves become compressed, leading to symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. Common causes of spinal stenosis include arthritis of the spine, and traumatic injury to the spinal column.
Lumbar Spine Arthritis: You’re prone to this condition if you’re obese and old, with any previous injuries to your spine. It affects the joints between each vertebra, causing stiffness and pain of the low back.
Spondylolisthesis: This is a condition of an injured spine, because of which the vertebrae move or slip their position. This destabilization of the pain, usually due to degenerative changes, causes extreme pain.
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis means a decrease in the density of bone mass, leading to the thinning and weakening of bones. The risk of bone fracture and injury is then much higher. Osteoporosis has two categories, Type I and Type II. It occurs with old age, especially in women, and with other risk factors such as Northern European ancestry, hypothyroidism, anticonvulsant medications, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Of course, quick treatment is desirable. Most times doctors cannot determine the exact cause, and fortunately most times it does not matter. However, there are exceptions and you may not be the lucky patient who experiences relief within a few days to weeks. The key is understanding
what is causing your back pain so you can work towards finding a solution.
* Note: Image(s) by the courtsey of http://www.stanford.edu, http://www.umm.edu & http://www.nlm.nih.gov.