Lower Back Pain Causes: The Information You Need

Lower Back Pain Causes: The Information You Need

Are you thinking that if you knew more about lower back pain causes then 

you might be able to get rid of the pain that you have and prevent it from 

making you suffer again? That may be true, so let's look at a list of possible 

lower back pain causes.

Pain in the lower back or lumbar region of the spine (also known as 

lumbago) is very common. In fact, it affects around 80% of people sooner or 

later in their lives and is believed to be the cause of more sickness absence 

from work than any other condition.

One of the most common lower back pain causes is a strain or sprain in the 

muscles of the back. This type of back pain is often called non-specific lower 

back pain and it usually goes away without requiring specific treatment 

except for pain medication which may be required. This type of pain will 

normally resolve within 4 weeks, and often in much less time than that.

If the strain has been caused by a sudden movement, lifting, or other 

obvious event, it often causes severe and immediate pain that may result in 

the person having very limited movement for a time. Rest is essential and 

anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed to handle the pain. 

In some cases the cause may not be muscle strain but a herniated disc (also 

known as a ruptured, bulging or slipped disc). This occurs when one of the 

discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae (the bones of the spine) is 

pushed out of its usual position. This can compress the spinal cord and the 

nerves around it, causing pain which is often accompanied by a feeling like 

an electric shock going down the legs, or numbness in the legs. 

Arthritis is another of the common lower back pain causes. Either 

osteoarthritis of the spine or rheumatoid arthritis can be a direct cause of 

lower back pain. People who suffer from arthritis in other joints such as the 

hips or knees may also have lower back pain because of irregular ways of 

walking to compensate for the joint problem.

There are some conditions that people may have had since childhood, which 

only develop into lower back pain causes in later life. These include a 

difference in the length of the legs, abnormalities of the feet, hips or pelvis, 

and spondylolisthesis (a slipped vertebra).

Besides this there are many other more unusual lower back pain causes. 

There may be an infection in the spine or a disease such as spinal stenosis 

or degenerative disc disease.

It is important to see your doctor about severe pain, any pain that continues 

for longer than you expect, or pain that is accompanied by other symptoms. 

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In particular, if you have difficulty going to the bathroom or numbness in the 

genital area, this could be a sign of a condition which requires immediate 

treatment as a medical emergency. It is always safer to see a doctor than to 

try to figure out your possible lower back pain causes by yourself.

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