Low back pain? Here are the top 4 conditions that might be causing your pain | Low back pain can be debilitating, making it challenging to focus on your daily tasks like cleaning the house, driving to work, or causing challenges when interacting with your loved ones. According to the WHO, around 80% of adults report low back pain at some point in their lives, while on most occasions, the pain goes away without any medical attention. It can become chronic sometimes. If you have chronic back pain that interferes with your daily activities, contact Dr. Clement Yeh of Republic Spine and Pain. He is a certified interventional pain expert who will diagnose the cause of your low back pain and customize your treatment plan.
There are several causes of back pain, but below, we will look at the top four conditions.
Disc injury
Intervertebral discs present in your back are prone to injuries. The risk usually becomes higher with age, making it easier for the disc to tear or become herniated. A torn disc arises when the cartilage that surrounds the disc is pushed against the spinal cord, causing the cushion that lies between the spinal vertebrae to move outside its normal location which leads to compression of the nerve roots as they exit through the vertebral bones. The injury can occur when you quickly and suddenly lift something, and the pain can go on for up to 72 hrs.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a condition that is caused by an injury to your sciatic nerve which connects your legs to the spine; hence if it has any damage, the pain will be felt in the legs and feet. Sciatica symptoms can vary depending on their severity and the amount of irritation on your nerve, but the common symptoms include; general body weakness, tingling, and sharp pain in the back. Some activities like sitting for an extended period of time or sneezing can also worsen the pain.
Spinal stenosis
This is the narrowing of the vertebral column which leads to the excursion of pressure to the spinal nerves and the spinal cord. It is usually a result of degeneration of the intervertebral discs, resulting in the compression of the nerve roots. The pressure on the nerve roots leads to symptoms like weakness, numbness, and cramping, which can be felt at any part of your body, but mostly occurs along the back of your body. Most people have noted that the pain gets worse while walking or when standing.
Abnormal spine curvature
Conditions like kyphosis or lordosis are known to cause a change in the curvature of the spine.
The conditions are mostly diagnosed during adolescence or childhood. Abnormal curvature of your spine can cause lower back pain because the poor posture exerts pressure on the ligaments and tendons.
Manage your low back pain today
Low back pain can be caused by several conditions, including the ones that have been described above. Instead of living with your pain which can interfere with how you do your daily tasks, seek medical guidance by speaking to an expert.
