Lower Back Pain – What Should You Know

Have you ever come home with debilitating pain in your lower back after an exhausting day? Back pain is one of the most common health problems that adults experience, and quite often, the pain subsides only after a good night’s sleep or a short nap!

However, persistent, severe or recurring bouts of spinal pain in the lumbar or lower back region can be uncomfortable, temporarily preventing the person from performing even routine activities, such as sitting up straight!

What Causes Pain in the Lumbar Region?

Strain

Excessive strain due to heavy lifting or poor body mechanics can cause the muscles and ligaments to tear or stretch. Symptoms of strained or torn muscles and ligaments include stiffness, numbness or pain in the lower back, as well as muscle spasms.

Disc Injury

Discs in the spinal structure can slip or tear during strenuous athletic activities or due to an accidental fall, especially in old age. The pain from a slipped disc or disc injury can last for 3–4 days longer.

Sciatica

A herniated or slipped disk can bulge out to pinch over the sciatic nerve. Since this nerve connects the spine to the legs, a pressed or pinched sciatic nerve can extend the back pain towards the legs. A person may experience inflammatory sensations or pins and needles.

Spinal Stenosis

The spinal discs act as shock absorbers between the interlocked bone structure of your spine. These discs may degenerate due to old age, spinal injuries, surgeries and arthritis. This puts pressure on your spinal cord and pinches the nerve roots, something that the discs previously prevented. If the discs degenerate in the lumbar area, you are likely to experience lower back pain or lumbar spinal stenosis.

Abnormal Curvature in the Spine

In congenital conditions such as scoliosis, lordosis and kyphosis, abnormality in the spine curvature results in bad postures. An abnormal spine curvature can put excessive pressure on muscles, tendons, ligaments and/or vertebrae, resulting in persistent or recurring back pain.

Treatment of Lower Back Pain

Acute lower back pain that lasts only a short period can usually be alleviated by getting adequate rest and adopting a healthier lifestyle. You can also use a hot and cold compress to quickly get some relief. Keep a pack of ice or frozen vegetables on the tender areas of your lower back to reduce pain and inflammation and increase mobility, following by using a heating pad a few days after the cold treatment to loosen the tightened muscles.

However, in case of chronic lumbar spine pain, seek medical attention from our experienced spine specialists at Bay Area Disc Centers. If you want to get rid of that unrelenting lower back pain, schedule your appointment today at one of our two locations. Our Campbell, CA, office can be reached by calling (408) 866-0300, and you can contact our San Mateo, CA, office at (650) 375-2545.