Reasons for Low Back Pain

Reasons for Low Back Pain

Mechanical difficulties and soft-tissue injuries are the most prevalent causes of low back discomfort. These injuries may include intervertebral disc injury, nerve root compression, and incorrect mobility of the spinal joints.

A torn or strained muscle and/or ligament is the most prevalent cause of lower back discomfort.

Muscle Tear and Ligament Tear
A low back sprain or strain may occur abruptly or gradually over time due to repeated motion.

1) Muscle strains occur when an overstretched muscle rips, causing damage to the muscle itself.
2) Sprains are caused by overstretching and ripping of the ligaments that connect the bones.
Muscle or ligament injury is immaterial from a practical standpoint, since the symptoms and treatment are identical.

These are frequent causes of sprains and strains:
1) Lifting a large item, or twisting the spine when lifting, might cause back pain.
2) Abrupt movements that impose an excessive amount of stress on the low back, such as a fall
3) Poor posture gradually
4) Sports injuries, particularly in sports involving twisting or high impact forces
Although sprains and strains do not often cause chronic pain, the acute pain associated with these injuries may be fairly intense.

Chronic lower back pain causes
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months and surpasses the body’s natural ability to recover. Chronic low back pain is often caused by a disc issue, a joint issue, or an inflamed nerve root. Common reasons include:

Lumbar disc herniation. The gelatinous core of a lumbar disc might penetrate the brittle exterior and irritate a surrounding nerve root. The herniated section of the disc is brimming with proteins that generate inflammation when they reach a nerve root; inflammation and nerve compression both contribute to nerve root discomfort. The disc wall is also densely supplied with nerve fibers, and a rupture in the wall may result in excruciating pain.

Degenerative disc disease. Intervertebral discs are hydrated and at their healthiest during birth. As individuals age, their discs dehydrate and deteriorate. As the disc loses hydration, it becomes less able to withstand stresses and transmits force to the disc wall, which may develop rips and produce discomfort or deterioration that may lead to a herniation. Additionally, the disc might rupture and lead to stenosis.

Facet joint dysfunction. There are two facet joints behind each lumbar disc at each motion segment. These joints are composed of cartilage between the bones and a capsular ligament that is densely innervated by nerves. These joints may be painful on their own or in tandem with disc discomfort.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The sacroiliac joint links each side of the pelvis to the sacrum at the base of the spine. It is a sturdy, low-mobility joint whose primary function is to absorb stress and strain between the upper and lower bodies. The sacroiliac joint may become uncomfortable if it gets inflamed (sacroiliitis) or if it moves excessively or insufficiently.

Spinal stenosis. This disorder produces discomfort due to a constriction of the spinal canal containing the nerve roots. The constriction in the lower back may be central, forminal, or both, and can occur at a single level or numerous levels.

Spondylolisthesis. This syndrome arises when a vertebra slides on top of its neighbor. There are five different kinds of spondylolisthesis, but the most prevalent are caused by a defect or fracture of the pars (between the facet joints) or mechanical instability of the facet joints. The discomfort may be caused by spinal instability or nerve compression.

Osteoarthritis. This disorder is caused by disc and facet joint degeneration. It may affect a single level or numerous levels of the lower spine, causing pain, inflammation, instability, and stenosis to varying degrees. Osteoarthritis of the spine is connected with aging and progresses slowly. This condition is also known as spondylosis and degenerative joint disease.

Deformity. Spinal curvature may include scoliosis or kyphosis. If the abnormality leads to the deterioration of the discs, facet joints, sacroiliac joints, or stenosis, it may be linked to lower back discomfort.

Trauma. Acute spinal fractures or dislocations may cause discomfort. Lower back discomfort that occurs after a traumatic event, such as a car accident or a fall, should be checked professionally.

Compression fracture. A fracture of the cylindrical vertebra, in which the bone collapses inward, may produce abrupt discomfort. This form of fracture is more prevalent in elderly individuals owing to brittle bones, such as those caused by osteoporosis.

Note that the existence of one or more of these disorders does not necessarily indicate that they are the cause of pain. An MRI scan may reveal osteoarthritis or degenerative disc degeneration, although the patient may not experience discomfort.