The spine is one of the most complicated parts of the human body – an S-shaped combination of bones, cartilage, and nerves. The spinal column is divided into five sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx. Woven between the bones are discs made of cartilage, and a thick structure of tissue and nerves called the spinal cord.
The spine enables movement and balance. It’s the support beam that keeps us upright and connects our body to the brain. Unfortunately, low back problems are one of the most common types of pain, affecting four out of five people at some point in their lives. It may come on suddenly or build up over time, but low back pain might severely impact your quality of life when it hits.
You may be wondering, “why does my low back hurt?” Keep reading to learn the common causes of low back pain and some solutions for treating it.
Low Back Pain Causes
1. Physical Causes
Typically, pain falls into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute low back pain may be caused by sudden movement, lifting heavy objects, poor posture, or a sports injury. It may start all at once or come on gradually. By definition, acute low back pain lasts less than three months.
● Age
● Torn or pulled muscle
● Sprained ligament
● Herniated disk
● Degenerative disc disease
● Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
● Spinal stenosis
● Spondylolisthesis
● Osteoarthritis
● Compression fracture
● Osteoarthritis
● Tumor
● Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease
● Kidney problems
● Myofascial pain syndrome
To answer “why does my lower back hurt?” you may require medical tests and a diagnosis to identify the cause. They may also require further treatment to manage pain or current spinal imbalances.
2. Lifestyle Causes
Another factor to consider when looking at the cause of your low back pain is your lifestyle. Most back issues are not inherited or present at birth. Instead, they result from injury, repetitive movements, or improper posture.
Lifestyle causes might be more challenging to pinpoint. When a doctor is diagnosing a physical problem – like the ones listed above – they may ask about your habits to figure out why your low back pain started in the first place. Even seemingly insignificant details like a new pillow or how you sit at your desk at work could result in low back pain.
Weight gain, especially when it’s sudden, is another factor to consider. Each added pound puts more strain on your back muscles and ligaments. It affects your overall posture and causes the lower back and pelvis to slant forward.
People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing back pain. The more weight you gain, the greater your risk.
Diet plays a role in weight gain but also increases general inflammation and decreases pain tolerance. Conversely, a diet full of processed sugars, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats negatively impacts your well-being and may worsen any existing back pain.
Similar to how your diet can cause low-grade inflammation, your mental health also influences how you feel pain. For example, chronic low back pain is associated with the increased possibility of depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep problems, and vice versa.
Back Pain Solutions
Regarding your lifestyle, you should focus on improving your posture, engaging your core, and stretching regularly.
Ice reduces inflammation and swelling while heat increases circulation to relax tight muscles. Massage helps you relax and reduces stress. Mindfulness engages the power of the brain to manage frustration, irritability, depression, and other psychological aspects of dealing with chronic pain.
When it comes to low back pain, you should consider seeing a specialist such as a chiropractor or physical therapist. They may try nerve stimulation, ultrasound, manipulations, exercises to correct your posture, and spinal injections to relieve the pain.
Sometimes, conservative treatment doesn’t yield any results. In these cases, back surgery may be the only option left to treat your low back pain.
Low Back Pain
The sooner you deal with your low back pain, the better off you will be. Structural issues will only worsen with time, and chronic pain won’t disappear until you identify and treat the cause.
In addition to working with your doctor to understand your lower back pain, remember to use your Kailo Pain Patch so that you can keep enjoying your life. The Kailo Patch is designed to relieve pain in seconds. Recently, a clinical study showed a significant decrease in lower back pain among participants.
Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or if you are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
