Lower back pain – what causes it?

Most often, pains in the lower back occur as a result of an injury, such as a muscle sprain or strain due to sudden movements and when lifting heavy objects.

Lower back pain can occur as a consequence of certain diseases, such as:

• spinal cord cancer
• ruptured or herniated disc
• sciatica
• arthritis
• kidney infections
• spinal infections

Back pain can last up to several weeks, while chronic back pain is the one that lasts even longer than three months.

Causes of pain in the lower back

Strain
The muscles and ligaments in the back can be stretched due to excessive activity, especially in older age. Symptoms include pain and stiffness of the lower back. Rest and physical therapy are remedies for these symptoms.

Disc injuries
Discs are highly susceptible to various injuries. The risk of disc injuries also increases with age. The outer side of the disc can narrow or herniate.

Sciatica
Sciatica occurs with a herniated disc if the disc presses on the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve connects the spine with the legs. As a result, sciatica often causes pain in the legs and feet.

Abnormal curvatures of the spine
Scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis are conditions that cause abnormal curvatures of the spine. These conditions are most often diagnosed during childhood or adolescence.
Curvature of the spine causes pain and poor posture.

Other causes of pain in the lower back:

• arthritis
• spondylosis
• kidney and bladder problems
• pregnancy
• endometriosis

Diagnosis of pain in the lower back

Your doctor will perform a thorough physical examination to determine the location of the pain. Your reflexes and nerves are also checked.

Symptoms that require further testing are:

• lack of bowel control
• weakness
• fever
• weight loss

If you do not have additional symptoms, the doctor will monitor your condition for some time before sending you for additional testing. The reason for this is that most lower back pain is resolved with simple self-care treatments.

Treatment

Home care
If the pain does not stop after 72 hours of home treatment, contact a doctor. Stop your normal physical activities for a few days, regularly applying ice to the lower back. Our recommendation is to use ice for the first 72 hours, and then switch to heat. This method helps relax the muscles. A warm bath or massage will relax stiff back muscles.

Other exercises you can do at home:

• stretching
• strengthening exercises

Surgery
In more severe cases, the only solution may be surgery. Surgery is performed when no other treatment method succeeds.

How to prevent lower back pain?

• regularly do exercises to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles
• lose excess weight
• light stretching exercises
• proper posture and sitting
• sleeping on a firm surface
• quit smoking

Talk to your doctor about lower back pain. They will discover the causes of the pain and help you plan the treatment that best suits you.

In our polyclinic, you can undergo all spine examinations. Find out more about magnetic resonance imaging of the spine  and book an appointment today!