The Lowdown on Lower Back Pain Causes

You’re going about your day when a painful spasm hits, causing you to stop short and rub that area just above your hips. Once again you’re the target of lower back pain. Millions of people experience this condition on a regular basis. And many of them wonder what it is that’s causing their discomfort.

Muscle strain is a frequent culprit in causing lower back pain. What happens exactly? You’re probably overdoing it physically, or lifting and carrying incorrectly. The end result is that your lower back muscles get pulled in directions they’re not used to moving in.

Most often, this is not a serious injury. But you’ll need to take it easy for a little while and avoid sharp movements. Stock up on ice and find a comfortable place to lay down.

A lumbar sprain is similar to a strain in that they are both popular causes of lower back pain. However, a lumbar sprain can be a lot more painful since it’s the result of torn ligaments. Ligaments are like the supporting stay cables on a suspension bridge. But if a cable gets broken, the stability and reliability of the bridge is compromised.

For women, painful cramps during their menstrual cycle and premenstrual syndrome can be a cause of lower back pain. In the later months of pregnancy there is also increased pressure on your vertebrae and spine. Pinched nerves are the result, and are usually quite painful. Endometriosis is another health issue for women that many times will be made worse by pain in the lower back area.

When your muscles aren’t properly stretched on a regular basis, upper back pain can result as well. Something as simple as a few arm and back stretches in the morning could do wonders for your overall spinal health. By exercising the back muscles, you can give them a lot of pain relief, particularly if your job involves a lot of repetitive movements.

There can be any number of reasons for lower back pain, ranging from sciatic nerves to muscle strain. Make an appointment with your doctor to get a diagnosis through an examination and perhaps some further testing.

The best approach to back pain treatment is to be proactive rather than letting it slide. Even putting it off for a few weeks can make the condition worse. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.