Back pains are very painful and need immediate help of a back pain specialist in most cases. But how do you identify the cause of lower back pain? Well, this blog will tell you just that. To find out, keep on reading.

Lower Back Pain

The lower back consists of five thin bones, called vertebrae. It is present in the lower or umber region. The five bones are identified by the letter “L” and numbers from 1 to 5. These 5 bones are responsible for holding the majority of the weight of the upper body, which includes your pelvis, hips, torso, abdomen and so on. Between each bone, there is a small rubber or sponge-like disc, which acts as shock absorbers, whenever your back is impacted by a load.

Any pain that is associated with the lower back region, in the L1 to L5 vertebrae, then it will be classified as lower back pain. Lower back pains are of 2 types, generally.

Acute Lower Back Pain

It is the type of back pain which occurs only once and then it gets better. It mostly happens due to slight dislocation of the back bones and lumbar vertebrae. It can settle by itself, within a few days to weeks, if you take proper rest and don’t do strenuous work and activity.

Chronic Back Pain

This is the type of pain that never leaves. It stays and is persistent throughout a person’s life. The symptoms can last for over a year, only then, the pain is classified as chronic back pain. This can be a serious issue, even after when an injury heals. It can only be healed with regular intake of painkillers and sometimes, strong steroids.

Causes Of Lower Back Pain

Now we will be talking about causes of lower back pains. Some of the very common cause of lower back pains are as follows:

Back Injuries

Back injuries are one of the most common causes of back pains, whether it is lower or upper back. Back injuries usually include muscle strains, ligament tears, sprains, etc. these injuries might seem insignificant, but if they are ignored and are not properly taken care of, then it can lead to lower back problems and pains in the long run. Long-term pain can be converted into chronic pain and from there, there is no point of return essentially.

Nerve And Spinal Cord Problems

Sometimes, lower back pains can be caused by nerve and spinal cord problems. Our backs consist of a very complex nervous system. The nerves can become inflamed, injured or compressed. The conditions in which these things occur are known as Sciatica, Spondylolisthesis, etc. Nerve problems can be very complex, and you don’t want them to keep hanging. If you see any type of symptom, then you should consult with a neurologist or orthopedic specialist immediately.

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Herniated discs are basically ruptured discs or damaged discs. As mentioned previously, discs are muscular or ligamentous flesh present in between each vertebra. These discs absorb any sort of shock or impact exerted on the back. If these discs become ruptured or damaged, then the shock can directly exert on your back and since your back is relatively weak, you can easily damage your back. The physical appearance of your back also changes, it can look bulged out and can compress as well, since the spaces between the vertebrae are now empty and there is nothing holding the vertebrae apart.

Osteoarthritis

Your spinal cord is the most valuable asset of your body. You might have noticed that there is a series of spaces between your spinal cord. A condition called osteoarthritis, will cause the spaces between the spinal cord to shrink. Shrinking of the spinal cord will lead to shortening of the back. This can cause a lot of pain in the back region. The shortening of the spinal cord can be due to weakening of the bone structure. Osteoarthritis is mainly caused by weak bone structure.

Now you know all of the potential and common causes of lower back pains. Now, if you feel any sort of back pain, you will be able to probe the cause. But never underestimate the role of spine and back doctors Woodbridge for diagnosing and treating back problems.