The Most Common Causes of Lower Back Pain Explained

Did you know that about 40 million Australians struggle with back pain? That’s 16% of the entire population!

Even though many people struggle with back pain, the reasons for it can vary.

If you’re interested in learning more about what’s causing your lower back pain symptoms, this guide is for you. Let’s take a look at the most common causes of lower back pain.

1. Injury

One of the most common lower back pain causes you’ll find is injury. Whether you were in a car accident, suffered a fall, or play a tough contact sport, this could be the source of the issue.

When you put your body through blunt-force trauma, this can have serious effects on all parts of the body.

Now, while lots of injuries can cause lower back pain, you’ll generally find that the pain doesn’t last. It will often go away on its own after a day or two if it’s due to an injury.

On the other hand, if you’ve got long-lasting pain that you can’t seem to shake, it might be time to seek out lower back pain treatment. By visiting a doctor, your healthcare provider can get a clearer picture of what’s going on and how to make you feel better.

2. Sciatica

Another common cause of lower back pain is Sciatica. Sciatica is a type of pain that occurs along your sciatic nerve.

The sciatic nerve is a long nerve that runs from your lower back down both your legs. When you have issues with your back, you may find that sciatic nerve pain is to blame.

Sciatica has a number of different causes. However, the most common causes are:

• Herniated disks
• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs

In general, if you’ve got sciatica, you’ll experience pain and inflammation in your lower back and legs. You may also have numbness in these parts of the body.

3. Scoliosis

Some people have spines with a sideways curve. When your spine is curved to the side instead of lying straight, it can cause back pain.

If you have scoliosis, you’re more likely to experience lower back pain. That’s true no matter how severe your scoliosis is.

4. Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition that affects older adults, for the most part. this condition causes the spinal canal to narrow.

When the spinal canal narrows, it can lead to:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Burning

You may experience these symptoms in the lower back or in the glutes.

5. Herniated Disc

Sometimes, vertebral discs in the spine rupture. When this happens, the disk’s insides spill out. The spillage can come into contact with nerves around the spine, leading to pain.

You can get herniated disks in any part of the spine, not just the lower back. However, it’s more common in the five lower vertebrae of the spine.

If you have a herniated disc, you’ll usually experience tingling, numbness, and pain.

Luckily, your spinal discs will often heal on their own. In the event that they don’t, you can treat them with surgery.

6. Degenerative Disc Disease

One reason people struggle with back pain is simply due to aging. Aging can cause all kinds of changes in the body, and one of those changes is that a person can develop degenerative disk disease.

Degenerative disk disease usually occurs in the lower back and the neck. If you struggle with this issue, you’ll likely experience shooting pain, numbness, and weakness in your lower back.

There’s no cure for degenerative disc disease. However, your doctor can help you manage the pain and symptoms so that you can continue your daily activities.

7. Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes the joints to become inflamed. Eventually, the inflammation in the body can spread to other joints, including those in the back.

When your spine’s joints begin to swell, you may start to feel pain and discomfort.

8. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease. This disease causes significant bone loss, making your bones brittle and hollow.

Many people don’t even realize they have osteoporosis until a bone breaks or fractures.

If you have osteoporosis, you may experience back pain. That’s because your bones become weak and can no longer support the pressure and weight of your back the way they used to.

9. Pinched Nerve

Pinched nerves can occur in any part of the body. When they occur in the lower back, they can cause excessive back pain.

Pinched nerves simply occur when a specific nerve has excess pressure placed on it. This can cause, weakness, tingling, and pain in the nerve’s surrounding areas.

What’s worse with pinched nerves is that they often cause radiating pain. That can make a whole lot more than your back feel bad!

10. Poor Posture

Sometimes, the only reason why you’re experiencing lower back pain is that you have poor posture. Since so many of us sit in offices, hunched over our computers all the time, it’s not hard to develop poor posture.

When you slouch, either while sitting or standing, you put excess strain on your back. This can eventually lead to lingering back pain, or to worsening existing back pain.

The good news is that this problem is easily reversed. If you focus on maintaining good posture, you can help distribute pressure through your back correctly.

As a result, you will put less strain on your back and can get rid of your pain problems.

Be Aware of the Most Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

Now that you’re aware of some of the most common causes of lower back pain, you might have a better idea of how to treat your problems. Knowing the source can help you put a stop to your symptoms once and for all.

So, are you ready to get started with lower back pain treatment? Book an appointment with our clinic for natural lower back pain solutions that can ease your discomfort.

• December 9, 2023
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