6 Potential Causes of Lower Back Pain

Adults worldwide have an 84% chance of suffering from back pain at some point. And it’s easy to see why, since your spine forms the foundation for your entire body. Given the workload on your spine, acute and chronic problems can crop up all too easily, and mostly in the lower back.

Dr. Sachida Manocha of Interventional Pain Center is an expert in treating lower back pain, and if you’re suffering from this condition, he can perform a thorough evaluation, get to the root of the problem, and help you find relief. In this blog, he explains six common causes of lower back pain.

1. Strains and sprains

Two of the most common problems in the lower back are sprains and strain. A sprain occurs when you overstretch a ligament in your lower back. A strain describes tiny tears in the muscles that support your lumbar spine. Fortunately, these injuries are usually acute, or temporary.

If you sprain or strain your lower back, it’s usually quite obvious. For example, if you lift something heavy or make a diving catch for a ball, you could end up with lower back pain.

2. Degenerative disc disease and herniated discs

The five discs in your lumbar spine are responsible for a good deal of support in your body and, over time, they can begin to wear down. As moisture leaves them, they can become more brittle, and they can flatten out, which can allow your vertebrae to come closer together.

Called degenerative disc disease, this condition places you at a far greater risk of suffering a herniated disc, which occurs when what’s inside a disc begins to leak out and irritate sensitive nerve roots along your spine. As a result, you can experience localized back pain as well as pain that radiates down into one side of your buttocks and legs.

3. Arthritis

Each vertebra has two small joints called facet joints. These joints, like the others in your body, can succumb to osteoarthritis (OA), which is known as wear-and-tear arthritis.

OA in your lower back can lead to a dull ache or pain with certain movements. This pain may worsen after you’ve been active.

4. Lumbar spinal stenosis

The term “stenosis” describes a narrowing. Spinal stenosis regards a narrowing of the spinal canal. Over time, degenerative changes can occur in your lower back that narrow your spinal canal in this area, leaving less space for nerves. As a result, these nerves can get compressed, which can lead to pain.

The pain that comes with lumbar spinal stenosis has its own characteristics, namely difficulty standing up straight as well as pain in the lower back and legs when walking.

5. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

At the bottom of your spine is your sacrum, which is a triangular piece of bone that attaches to your hips via two small joints called sacroiliac (SI) joints. If these joints are too tight or too loose, this can lead to lower back pain. In fact, researchers believe that up to one-quarter of lower back pain stems from the SI joints.

6. Spondylolisthesis

This is a condition in which one cervical vertebra slips out over another. Spondylolisthesis is quite common. In fact, it’s seen in up to 18% of adult patients who undergo an MRI of their spines.

Thankfully, three-quarters of people with spondylolisthesis have no symptoms and only a mild degree of slippage. If the condition worsens, however, it can lead to lower back pain, especially when standing up straight. This pain can also radiate down into your buttocks.

As you can see, there are many possibilities when it comes to lower back pain. The best thing you can do is come see us for a diagnosis, so we can get started on relieving your pain.

To get the help you need, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center today. We have offices in Worthington and Newark, Ohio.