Do you suffer from low back pain? No need to fret as you aren’t the only one!

Lower back pain is probably among the few illnesses like cold and cough that most of us experience in our lifetime. And yet the causes for the lower back pain differ between individuals. While for some it could be due to the strain on their back muscles caused by lifting heavy objects, for some it could be a ruptured disc or cancer in the spinal region or a hernia. The pain could also be a result of an injury sustained in the spinal region.

Studies indicate that people in the age group of 30-50 years are more prone to be affected with lower back pain. Ageing is also looked upon as a cause since, with age, the gel between the vertebrae thins out causing more friction resulting in pain. It is therefore very important to keep your back muscles strong as you grow up and age, to have a healthy life.

In this article, we will look into the various causes of the lower back pain, the regions where they occur, how it affects men and women, the difference between acute and chronic pain, and reasons for pain intensify with specific postures such as pain while walking or sitting.

 What is lower back pain?

There are a lot of definitions on what construes lower back pain, and yet people often confuse it with other pains such as kidney pain. So, let us first understand what constitutes our lower back region. The region which starts just below our ribcage is referred to as the lumbar or the lower back region, and any pain you experience in this area falls under the low back pain category.

The pain, irrespective of the causes, can be quite severe that many of us take leave and try to rest our backs for some time.

Let us first look at the various causes or the reasons why you might feel pain in your lower back.

What causes the pain in the low back?

Knowing the reason behind the pain and understanding the symptoms will help you give accurate information to your doctor who can then diagnose the problem and provide you with an effective treatment. Here we will give you a brief peek into the different causes and the symptoms that you might experience with each of them.

  1. Muscle sprain and strain

This is the most common cause of stress and pain in your low back. When a muscle is stretched farther than it should be and it ends up tearing or the ligaments attached to the bones end up strained or torn, it results in muscle strain or muscle sprain. You will not just experience pain in your lower back, but you will also find your back to be stiff and sometimes there is also a possibility for muscle spasms.

When you lift heavy objects suddenly, or you are using a poor posture while standing or sitting, or you make sudden movements that exert pressure on the lower back, then it ends up in muscle sprains.

They are not very serious, and the best treatment is to take rest. You will find yourself getting better in days, if not in hours.

  1. Injury to the disc

We often hear people saying that they have slipped disc. Ever wondered what they mean by that?

The discs are the cushion found in between our vertebrae that keeps them intact, ensuring that they do not push against each other. These discs have a soft jelly-like inside with a tough surface on the outside. It is when this jelly gets out of the surface, or when there is a tear on the disc, that we experience pain in the lower back. This condition is referred to as “slipped disc”, “herniated disc” or “ruptured disc” in medical terms.

When the tear happens and the jelly bulges out, it adds pressure on the nearby nerves which will cause pain and numbness.

When you have a disc injury, you will usually experience pain in your arms and legs depending on where the ruptured disc is located. In the case of the lower back region, the pain will be intense in your calf muscles, things and buttocks region.

Mostly, disc injuries are related to the age as the gel thins out with the ageing causing the bones to rub against each other adding on the pressure. It is not mandatory for surgery to solve the herniated disc. However, if you experience weakness and numbness along with pain in your legs, then you should seek medical attention immediately.

  1. Sciatica

The nerve that runs from our lower back to the back of each leg is called the sciatic nerve and any pressure on this nerve can cause severe pain in the lower back region. This condition is referred to as “Sciatica”.

Most of the times the back pain you are experiencing could be due to some strenuous activity you undertook. However, if the pain feels like a leg cramp and doesn’t go even after a few days, then it probably could be sciatica. The pain often shoots down one leg, and it is more severe when you sit, sneeze or cough.

Prolonged poor posture while standing or sitting or people who have to maintain the same posture for long hours are often the ones who suffer from this kind of lower back pain. Degenerative arthritis in the spinal region can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve ending in pain.

Women often find themselves facing this issue during pregnancy when the developing uterus applies pressure on the sciatic nerve. Most of the times, this doesn’t need surgery for treatment.

    1. Spinal stenosis

The narrowing of the spinal canal, referred to as the Spinal Stenosis can also be the cause of the pain in the lower back region. The spinal canal is nothing but the bones of the spine that keeps your spinal nerves safe. When this canal starts narrowing, it starts compressing the spinal nerves and their roots, resulting in pain. It is a condition that is often found in individuals who are above the age of 50. Some people also have a narrow spinal canal by birth. The changes in the spinal structure due to injury or a surgery or a disc bulging or any other degenerative changes can lead to Spinal Stenosis. Apart from cramping in the legs and pain, it can also affect the bladder and bowel movements. Narrowing of the spinal canal alone is not a condition to worry with. It is a cause to worry when coupled with symptoms like numbness, pain and lack/reduced bowel, bladder movements, etc.

    1. An injury

If you are a sports player or you take part in some seriously dangerous activities where there are chances of injury, then you have higher chances of getting low back pain. If you have met with an accident where you injured your back can also be a reason for the pain in your lower back. When you suffer an injury, there are chances of your spinal nerves being restricted which will further result in sciatica and hence pain in your lower back.

    1. Other causes

Apart from the above-discussed points, below are other causes that can result in lower back pain. Few of them are,

    • Abnormal curvature in the spinal muscles which are generally present from birth which results in poor posture, additional pressure on the muscles, ligaments, etc. and of course pain.
    • Inflammation between the bones in the spinal cord also referred to as “Spondylitis“.
    • When there is a loss in the normal spinal structure or functioning, owing to a degenerative disorder, it can cause pain in the lower back. This condition is referred to as spondylosis and is mostly found in people who age.
    • When the tendons, joints, and muscles are quite tender to the touch, and there has been a pain for a longer period.
    • While not all infections can be a cause for the pain in the lower back, if the infection affects your vertebrae, then it can shoot up as pain in your lower back.
    • Cancer can also cause pain in the lower back region, but this is generally a lesser likely scenario as it spreads from other parts of the body.
    • When the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs, pelvis, and abdomen enlarges abnormally causing an aneurysm, then it can end up in back pain.
    • While kidney stones can also be a cause for back pain, it doesn’t get classified as lower back pain for it happens only one side and around the hip region.

Apart from the above illnesses and injuries, there are also other factors that given time can lead to low back pain. This will typically include,

    • As you grow old, your bone strength comes down considerably which means your muscles lose their elasticity and the vertebrae lose the cushion it usually has. That is why you find a majority of the lower back complaints raising from age groups above 30.
    • Staying fit and healthy is not an option but a necessity. But then again if you are going to stay put for the entire week and only workout on the holidays, you will increase your chances of back injury.
    • For women, pregnancy is a common cause for back pain that results postpartum.
    • For children, overload on their school bags can be the reason for the strain on back muscles causing the lower back to ache.
    • Obesity is also cited as a factor that leads to pain in the lower
    • Genetic factors can also play a role in the spinal joint formation that can cause low back pain.
    • If your work involves a lot of heavy duty work, pulling, lifting, pushing, etc. which can strain your spine then it could lead to low back aches.
  • Lastly, studies also indicate depression and anxiety also being a cause for pain in the low

Chronic lower back pain, how it differs from “Acute”

As we saw earlier, among the different causes for lower back pain, the pain due to muscle sprain or strain often goes away by itself. You would need either a good rest to your back or undertake some massage therapy to get rid of these back pains. However, if pain continues to persist for more than three months without any reprieve, then it is classified as “chronic“. In cases where the pain persists consistently for three months, you must consult your doctor and have it diagnosed right away!

Is chronic pain the same as the acute pain?

No, they are not the same. Acute pain is something that lasts only for a moment, and it need not always be severe sometimes though it could last for more than a moment. But once it goes away, you will be able to proceed with your usual routine like before. Acute pain is similar to pain from surgeries, childbirth, etc. In the case of chronic pain though, the pain is consistent, ‘dull’ and it continues to exist even after the primary cause of the pain goes away. It prevails for more than three months. For example, you could have hurt your back two years back, and yet your back will continue to hurt even after the wound has healed. This is a typical example of chronic pain.

Men Vs. Women – who suffers more?

Back pain doesn’t distinguish between men, women or children. Anyone who performs physically strenuous activities or those who are not healthy are prone to lower back pain. However, if you were to compare men and women, studies indicate that women have higher chances of developing lower back pain. Studies also indicate that out of the patients who suffer from disc prolapse; men were faster to recover than women. According to research, this is because the genetic structure in women which promotes chronic pain works the other way around in men. The gene which motivates pain in women suppresses it in their counterparts. Most common of the conditions that women suffer from are

    • Injury to the tailbone often the result of childbirth.
    • Chances of degenerative spinal diseases due to lower bone density.
    • More prone to muscle spasms in the sciatic region.
  • Impact on the SI joint that connects the pelvis and upper body due to pregnancy

Are the pain on my left/ right lower back and the middle lower back resulting from the same cause?

When we say lower back, as defined earlier, it is the region that starts below our ribcage. But depending on the exact location of the pain, the cause might also vary.

For instance, if you are experiencing pain in your right or left lower back, then it could be due to problems with the kidney or the region surrounding the kidneys. In such cases, the treatment would vary based on the kind and severity of the problem. Again, the pain in these regions necessarily need not to be kidney related and could be a simple muscle sprain too. Your doctor can help you make the right diagnosis. This article will guide you to distinguish kidney pain.

The region from the base of the neck to the end of the rib cage, referred to as the thoracic spine constitutes your middle back. There are multiple reasons why you might have a pain in this region, and some of them overlap with the causes of pain in lower back in general.

Can my daily routine like sitting or walking cause lower back pain?

Yes, it can cause low back pain.

  • When you walk, there is a certain rhythm followed by the muscles in our hips and pelvis region. When this gets disrupted, our spine starts moving unnaturally which causes sciatica and overexertion. As we step our foot forward, we are putting our body weight on the legs, which causes extra strain on the muscles connecting the legs to the upper body thus causing pain in our lower back.
  • When you have to sit for long hours without taking a break, you are applying too much pressure on the discs which can be averted if you take a break to stretch your muscles in regular intervals.
  • When you sleep, it is important that you maintain the natural alignment of the spine. Your hips, head and the shoulders should be in alignment, and your back is well supported. There are different ways to sleep, and it varies with individuals. While sleeping on your back is the right posture, ensuring that your back gets enough support will help with lower back pain.

Conclusion

Understanding the location of the pain is the first step to getting an effective treatment.  Once you have the location pinpointed, then you can start looking for the other symptoms and pay attention to how your body behaves.  Watch out for the red flags, like persistent pains or pain shooting up to the end of your legs. And, consult your doctor immediately for the right treatment.

Low Back pain does not just impact you physically. Chronic pain in the back can have an impact on your mental health as well.  Keeping to a strict exercise regime and following proper posture with a healthy diet is the key to fighting lower back pain.

23 Comments

  1. Sandra Patterson

    Wow, I had no idea that children could get back pain from overloaded backpacks. My sister has been thinking about having someone look at her back because of some pain that she has been having. I bet she could look around for a professional to get that checked for her ASAP.

    Reply
  2. mzakapon

    Hi Shani,

    This is a great informative article about low back pain causes. I have learned so many important tips about different types of pain issues, symptoms and necessary steps for those issues. Though I have no issue right now, my mother has back pain issue yet and sometimes she uses pain relief electronic message therapy machine. I think this article will be useful to her. I am going to share this helpful guideline with her. Thanks for writing this educative content.

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi there,

      We are glad that you found the information useful.

      Best wishes to you and your family.

      Reply
  3. Chris Cagney

    Hi Shani

    I’m glad I read your post. I was quite informational. Some times my can get a bit of pain in my lower back and my neck. I can also get muscle spasms. It doses happen after a long Hard day. I know now it is nothing serious. 

    I have found by getting a good Stech in a few times a day helps a lot. 

    I have been a side sleeper for as long as I can remember. But now I am going try to change that and sleep on my back. We will see how that goes. I don’t think it will be easy but I am going to try. 

      Thank 

      Chris

     

    Reply
    • Shani

      Dear Chris,

      Thanks for the comment and I am glad that you found the information useful.

      It seems you have both lower and upper back pain. You may find my article about causes for upper back backache a useful reading too.

      As noted in the articles, it is also possible there is an underlying medical condition causing your back pain. Therefore, I would suggest you discuss your symptoms in detail with your doctor and investigate further.

      Although as much as I like to help you out from a distance, please do not consider my guidance here as ‘medical advice’.

      I hope this helps.

      Reply
  4. Rgpratap

    Hello Shani,

    Your article contains rich information about lower back pain. Low back pain is a very common problem in my family. My mom got operated twice for lower back pain. I also have lower back pain but I do some exercises and massage. My case is not that much severe. I have already got some information about what causes low back pain, but your article added many other unknown facts on this topic. I am truly benefited from your writing. Thanks a lot for sharing your long experience in the field.

    Sincerely,
    Ranao.

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Ranao,

      Thanks for sharing your story about lower back pain.

      We are glad that you found the information useful.

      Reply
  5. Badhan Biswas

    Hi Shani,

    After reading your whole article about low back pain causes, I have finally figured out those causes. Well earlier on my childhood my father faced one of those symptoms. He is a NGO employee. He is a cashier and had to sit on a chair from 9 to 5. That’s why he got a back pain problem. His conditions were really serious sometimes he couldn’t even walk a 15 foot of a distance. He used to have a pain on his left leg. But thanks to god that is not having that same problem anymore. A great physician helped him to overcome that problem.

    I think he was having sciatica. Well, that could be something else.

    But I think that from your article I have found a very important things difference between chronic lower back pain and acute. The most annoying thing about this lower back pain is it keeps constantly changing the reason for pain every time and when those theories are being applied to another one. But the article of yours helped me so much. 

    The scariest part for me was that chronic pain is related to mental health. Please write something on that topic too. 

    Thanks for sharing all those important information on your article. 

    Regards,

    Badhan Biswas

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Badhan,

      Thanks for sharing your father’s story about lower back pain.

      We are glad that you found the information useful.

      We like your suggestion. We can be assured that there are more articles in the lineup and some may dive into the psychological impact of chronic illnesses.

      Best wishes to you and your family.

      Reply
  6. Seun Afotanju

    Thanks for this informative post, The pain of back pain almost always makes it seem worse than it is. The most worrisome causes of back pain rarely cause severe pain, and many common problems are usually much less serious than people fear but only a minority of the back pains are ominous and even then it’s treatable.

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Seun,

      Thanks for sharing your opinion about lower back pain.

      Best wishes.

      Reply
  7. Kenechi

    So much points and facts. I have actually learnt a lot from this article today about lower back pains. Information is powerful. At times one could be suffering from something but he may not know the exact cause of the problem. 

    I just remembered a few weeks ago I sat all through the night working online without walking around to exercise my muscle. After good number of hours, I started feeling mild kind of pain at my back. I didn’t actually know it was because of long sitting. I have just learnt about it now and next time I will have to take caution about it. 

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Kenechi,

      Thanks for the comment and we are glad that you found the information useful.

      Best wishes.

      Reply
  8. Chidiking88

    Good article. Low back pain can also be the result of certain diseases, such as cancer of the spinal cord, a ruptured or herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, kidney infections, or infections of the spine. This is why strengthening your back muscles and using good body mechanics are helpful in preventing low back pain. Also, injury to the muscles, ligaments, joints, or disks can lead to it. 

    Home remedies for low back pain include a cold pack and heat applications, topical analgesic balms, avoiding re-injury, eliminating heavy lifting, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

    Thank you for this article. 

    Reply
  9. Peace

    Lower back pain, can be a real source of discomfort. Making it difficult to sit or stand without hurting. Only the lying position, can bring some form of relief. 

    Men that work in companies where they have to haul heavy loads, should take extra care of their lower backs, by seeking massaging, acupuncture, yoga, regular exercising and application of essential oils. 

    One should also try to consult their doctor to ascertain the cause of the pain proper.

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi there,

      Thanks for the comment.

      Appreciated your contribution.

      Reply
  10. Sammynathaniels

    Knowing the cause of back pain is very essential to enable effective treatment. I started feeling pains in my lower back close to my pelvic region. I went for diagnosis and nothing could be seen as the cause. The medical practitioner thought I had a form of accident in the past but I had to refute her hypothesis. I later went to see another doctor who suspected it to be a duodenal ulcer. I was advised to go for the h-pylori test which later came out positive. Right now, I’m receiving the treatment… 

    I wonder what would have happened to me if the cause of the back pain wasn’t discovered. 

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Sammy,

      Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience.

      It is crucial to identify the cause of back pain precisely so it can be appropriately managed. Once you have the location identified (lower vs middle vs upper back), then doctors can start looking for other symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomiting, poor appetite) and decide on the further investigation before a diagnosis is made.

      We are glad that all went well, and you are on the way to recovery.

      You may also find the article on Upper Back Pain Causes useful.

      Best wishes.

      Reply
  11. Louis

    Hello Shani,

    I do suffer from acute back pain for a couple of days. This occurs when I have to do some heavy lifting at work, but it normally reduce after a couple of days. Although I know it would go after some days, I wish I could know how to manage this more, so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pain. I also hate taking painkillers because I’m scared of its effect on other organs in my body. 

    Hoping to read more from your blog, perhaps you can proffer solutions to my distress.

    Regards

    Reply
    • Shani

      Dear Louis,

      Thanks for the question.

      Given your pain is ‘acute’ in nature I think it would be best to make a visit to your doctor for diagnosis given sometimes acute pain can be due to kidney pain. More information about kidney pain is here https://themedichannel.com/back-pain-and-kidney-pain/.

      Although as much as I like to help you out from a distance, please do not consider my guidance here as ‘medical advice’.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
  12. Kehinde Segun

    Hi there
    This post is really educational. 65% of human so suffer from back pain in their life time. It has always been on of those ailment that is rampant in our society. I can really testify to the causes of back pain. The muscle sprain is the  major causes of it. Majorly we all carry heavy objects.

    Reply
    • MediChannel

      Hi Kehinde,

      We are glad you found the information useful and thanks for your comment.

      You may also find useful reading about treatment options and home remedies for chronic back pain .

      Best wishes.

      Reply

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