Causes of Lower Back Pain

When we end up with severe pain on colliding with something, we at least know what is the cause of the pain. However, there do exist some circumstances wherein we experience excruciating pain in some or the other part of the body, with no idea whatsoever about the underlying causes of the same. One of the best example of such pain is the pain in the lower back. Even though many people are harassed by this problem, not many among them actually know what are the causes of lower back pain. These causes may range from common causes such as overuse of lower back muscles to relatively rare disorders such as the Scheuermann's disease.

Lower Back Anatomy

The lower back is one of the most intricate structure of the human anatomy. One of the most important component of lower back is the spinal column, which supports the weight of the entire upper body and protects the spinal cord encased within it. The spinal cord, on the other hand, starts at the base of the brain, and runs down the spine. The spinal column is made up of several small bones known as vertebrates, which are stacked one upon another. In between these vertebrates, there lie small cartilage pads known as the intervertebral discs, which are meant to cushion the spinal column and facilitate movement of the upper body in various directions. Other than these discs, there also exist ligaments and tendons which hold the vertebrates together and double up as the medium to attach the lower back muscles to the spinal column.

Causes of Lower Back Pain

In most of the cases, lower back pain is caused as a result of injury to the backbone, lower back muscles, ligaments, tendons or intervertebral discs. This injury can either be attributed to excessive wear and tear of these parts or some underlying medical condition which causes damage to them, both of which are equally common and serious. In fact, excessive wear and tear of various components of this region can result in imbalance in the spinal structure, thus making the lower back more susceptible to repetitive injuries. As in case with various other parts of the body, overuse of muscles in the lower back is one of the most common cause of pain in the lower back. Bacterial infection can also result in constant lower back pain. Basically, bacterial infection can spread to the spinal cord either through the blood or during a back surgery.

Lower back pain causes also include bony growth on the spinal cord, spinal column or the intervertebral discs. Among the various diseases and disorders which can result in lower back pain, the most prominent ones are osteoarthritis scoliosis, herniated disc, spondylolysis etc. These disorders tend to put pressure in the nerve roots in the lower back and cause severe back pain in lower right side of the body. Among the various causes of lower back pain in women, compression fracture is perhaps the most common problem. During pregnancy, lower back pain causes in women include weight gain and rising levels of pregnancy hormones, i.e. relaxin and progesterone to be precise. Even though rare, conditions like ankylosing spondylitis and Scheuermann's disease can also trigger pain in the lower back. Other conditions which have a tendency to result in lower back pain include gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, kidney stones, etc.

These were some of the most prominent causes of lower back pain which can severely hamper your daily activities. In some cases, pain in the lower back persists throughout the day, and in some cases it is momentary i.e. when you walk for a long duration or when you lift something. The fact that the various components of the lower back act as connection between our upper body and lower body makes them quite crucial for our health, and therefore any damage caused to them can have severe implications on our overall health. In several cases, back pain acts as a symptom of some underlying serious condition, and ignoring it can further worsen the condition, sometimes beyond repair. Taking the seriousness of the issue into consideration, it is important to ensure that you opt for proper diagnosis and treatment of lower back pain even before it becomes unbearable.