What Causes Low Back Pain

by Kenneth Causes

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention. Pain is usually the result of problems with the musculoskeletal system. Sometimes low back pain is caused by a disease that does not affect the musculoskeletal system. Low back pain is more common in older age groups, affecting more than half of people over 60 years of age.

Radiculitis Is the Main Reason

One of the most common causes of severe low back pain is sciatica. In recent years, it has increasingly appeared among young people. Lifestyle has changed a lot over the past few decades, but the human body is evolutionarily adapted to something else – regular physical work. Due to the lack of activity, several disorders occur in it, including diseases of the musculoskeletal system and sciatica.

Another big problem is that many people treat sciatica on their own, using topical painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Such symptomatic therapy gives only a temporary result since sciatica is not an independent disease, but a syndrome that develops against the background of another pathology. Without appropriate treatment, it often becomes chronic and develops asymptomatically for a long time.

Other Reasons

The causes of pain in the low back can also be:

  • spinal and joint injuries;
  • soft tissue damage;
  • protrusions and hernias of intervertebral discs;
  • scoliosis and other curvature of the spine;
  • osteochondrosis;
  • diseases of the joints and cartilaginous tissues;
  • pathology of internal organs;
  • inflammatory and infectious diseases.

The nature of pain in different pathologies may differ as well as the accompanying symptoms. For example, constant aching pain can occur with minor soft tissue injuries, joint diseases, and lumbar osteochondrosis.

Acute pain syndrome can cause protrusions and hernias of the intervertebral discs. With these pathologies, the pain, as a rule, is aggravated during movements.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that not always, when experiencing pain in the lower back, the focus of the problem is in the same place. Meaning, the lower back may not be the main reason for your discomfort. In some cases, the pain is reflective and occurs as a result of diseases of the internal organs. Therefore, to correctly determine the source of pain, consultation with specialists is a necessary condition for future health.

To sum up, don’t postpone the doctor’s appointment, if you are having problems with your lower back. Contact a qualified specialist to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. By taking care of your health you can return to your usual activities without the constant pain in no time.