Sudden Lower Back Pain

Back pain is a fairly common symptom of several diseases and disorders. It is a universal problem that is more commonly seen in adults than children. Back pain can be acute as well as chronic. The sudden lower back pain is mostly an acute type of back pain. On the other hand, the dull and aching pain is the chronic back pain. If acute back pain is not treated timely, it can take a chronic form which is difficult to treat. The symptoms of back pain can range from mild to severe depending on the cause of it. Let us have a look at the causes of sudden lower back pain.

Lower Back Pain Causes
Back pain is mostly caused due to an injury to a muscle or a ligament. The following are the other causes of sudden lower back pain.

Muscle Sprain
Sudden stretching or tearing of any back muscle can lead to sudden lower back pain. Similarly, damage to the ligament can also cause back pain. This occurs when due to improper sitting, bending or lifting heavy objects. Muscle injuries are mostly seen in the case of athletes and dancers.

Sciatica
Inflammation of the sciatic nerve causes sciatica. The sciatic nerve extends from the lower back to the legs and hence the pain is also experienced in the back, the buttocks and the legs. Sciatica pain is a sudden shooting pain with a burning sensation and is often experienced only in one part of the body.

Herniated Disc
Herniated discs, or the slipped discs, is another significant cause of sudden lower back pain. When the discs present between the bones of the spinal cords get damaged due to any injury, they bulge or rupture, causing hernia. This is known as herniated discs. Sudden pressure on the lower back or improper movement can result in herniated discs.

Spondylolysis
It is a defect in the wing shaped part of the vertebrae. There are several causes of spondylolysis, a congenital defect being the foremost. It can also result from an injury, trauma or a fracture.

Lower Back Pain in Women
Women often complain of back pain during pregnancy. This is very common and is also considered perfectly normal. Back pain occurs due to the extra weight that the woman puts on during pregnancy. As the weight is distributed around the uterus, the woman experiences lower back pain. Sometimes, hormonal imbalance or improper posture can also be the cause of back pain in women.

Lower Back Pain Treatment
The treatment for back pain depends on the cause of it. Therefore, if one experiences sudden back pain that does not ease after some time, he should consult the doctor immediately to find the underlying cause of it. If it is a serious condition, you may have to undergo a surgery to get rid of the problem effectively. But it is a rare case. On the other hand, in most of the cases, non surgical treatments like acupressure or physiotherapy can be effective. In mild cases, pain killers or sprays can also be effective in pain relief. Taking complete bed rest is also necessary for treating sudden lower back pain.

One should also remember that back pain can be prevented simply by adopting proper sitting and sleeping postures. Similarly, one needs to be extra careful when participating in any sports or athletics. On the other hand, having a good diet and regular exercise is also equally important. Most of the time, excess weight can also cause back pain. It is important to get your body weight under control and maintaining a healthy weight. One should remember to get sudden lower back pain treated early, to overcome the discomfort associated with it.