Low back pain is a common complaint. It is often accompanied by symptoms like stiffness, posture problems, and muscle spasms. Anyone can have low back pain, but you are more likely to experience the problem if you are obese, have structural issues, or have an occupation that involves frequent bending or heavy lifting. In most cases, low back pain Glen Rock improves with rest, medications, and physical therapy. Severe low back pain can make moving, sleeping, or performing daily duties difficult. There are many causes of low back pain, and here are some.
Degenerative disc disease
Degenerative disc disease develops when the discs between your spinal vertebrae wear down. These discs act as cushions in your back, allowing you to bend and twist. When they degenerate, the vertebrae can start rubbing against each other, causing back pain. Back pain resulting from degenerative disc disease can worsen when you bend, twist, or lift but improve with walking or moving.
Sciatica
Sciatica is irritation due to compression of the sciatic nerve. It causes sharp back pain that radiates through your buttocks and down into your legs. You may experience additional symptoms like numbness or tingling that run down your leg. Your pain can worsen when you move or do sudden actions like sneezing or coughing. Spinal stenosis and herniated disc can lead to sciatica. You can treat mild sciatica at home with rest and over-the-counter medications. Severe sciatica may need steroid injections or surgery.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of your spinal canal that causes pressure on your spinal cord and nerve roots. Spinal stenosis mostly affects people over fifty years. Common symptoms of spinal stenosis include lower back pain, sciatica, numbness or weakness in one or both legs, and difficulty walking.
Sprains and strains
Sprains and strains are major contributors to back pain. A sprain happens when you overstretch or tear a ligament, while a strain results from overstretching or tearing a tendon or muscle. Back sprains and sprains can be caused by overuse, sports injuries, twisting awkwardly, or lifting too heavy objects or improperly. Common symptoms of sprains and strains include tenderness, swelling, and muscle spasms.
Injuries
A forceful impact on your back can cause spinal damage leading to pain. Injuries can damage your spine, causing fractures or herniated discs. Falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries are common traumas that can cause low back pain. Backaches often happen almost immediately after the injury. You may experience additional symptoms like tingling and numbness that radiates down your legs.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of your spine. The condition can cause uneven shoulders and hips. Scoliosis often affects children between eleven and twelve years, just before they develop a growth spurt. But it can happen at any age. Scoliosis causes low back pain, but children with the condition mostly experience backaches in adulthood. Most scoliosis cases are mild and do not require treatment.
Low back pain is a common problem that can affect your everyday activities. Degenerative disc disease, injuries, spinal stenosis, sprains, strains, and scoliosis are common causes of low back pain. Schedule an appointment at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine for low back pain treatment to resume your normal duties.