A herniated lumbar disk occurs when the inner gel of one of the five disks in your lumbar spine slips or squishes beyond the outer rind, allowing this inner gel to press on surrounding nerves — causing pain.
This slippage can be due to trauma or gradual, age-related wear and tear. The joints connecting the five vertebrae that make up your lower back, called the facet joints, experience large loads of compressive force and stress. Over time, breakdown of the cartilage in your facet joints can lead to lower back pain. This is often due to osteoporosis, but can also be the result of trauma," says Dr.
This collapse can cause severe pain, and individuals suffering a lumbar compression fracture often experience sudden pain and limited spinal mobility. Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal in your lower back narrows, placing pressure on nearby nerve roots. It can be caused by the formation of bone spurs, thickening of a nearby ligament or degeneration of a lumbar disk or joint.
If a lumbar vertebra slips forward — over the top of the vertebra below — it places a lot of compressive force on the lumbar disk that is separating the two vertebrae. As the lumbar disk deteriorates, it can cause lower back pain. Kellerman RD, et al. Spine pain. In: Conn's Current Therapy Elsevier; Low back pain. American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Walls RM, et al. Back pain. Foster NE, et al. Prevention and treatment of low back pain: Evidence, challenges and promising directions. The Lancet. Knight CL, et al. Treatment of acute low back pain.
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Mayo Clinic. These conditions tend to cause additional symptoms, such as numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation, and they're treated differently from non-specific back pain. It's difficult to prevent back pain, but the following tips may help reduce your risk:. These problems could be a sign of something more serious and need to be checked urgently.
Page last reviewed: 14 January Next review due: 14 January How to relieve back pain The following tips may help reduce your back pain and speed up your recovery: stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities — this is 1 of the most important things you can do, as resting for long periods is likely to make the pain worse try exercises and stretches for back pain ; other activities such as walking , swimming , yoga and pilates may also be helpful take anti-inflammatory painkillers , such as ibuprofen — remember to check the medicine is safe for you to take and ask a pharmacist if you're not sure use hot or cold compression packs for short-term relief — you can buy these from a pharmacy, or a hot water bottle or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth or towel will work just as well Although it can be difficult, it helps if you stay optimistic and recognise that your pain should get better.
But it's a good idea to get help if: the pain does not start to improve within a few weeks the pain stops you doing your day-to-day activities the pain is very severe or gets worse over time you're worried about the pain or struggling to cope If you see a GP they will ask about your symptoms, examine your back and discuss possible treatments. Treatments for back pain from a specialist A GP, specialist or physiotherapist may recommend extra treatments if they do not think your pain will improve with self-help measures alone.
These may include: group exercise classes where you're taught exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve your posture manual therapy treatments, such as manipulating the spine and massage, which are usually done by a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath psychological support, such as cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , which can be a useful part of treatment if you're struggling to cope with pain Some people choose to see a therapist for manual therapy without seeing a GP first.
Other regions of vertebrate are cervical in the neck , thoracic upper back , and sacral and coccygeal below the lumbar area segments. Most acute low back pain is mechanical in nature, meaning that there is a disruption in the way the components of the back the spine, muscle, intervertebral discs, and nerves fit together and move.
Some examples of mechanical causes of low back pain include:. Age: The first attack of low back pain typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, and back pain becomes more common with advancing age.
Loss of bone strength from osteoporosis can lead to fractures, and at the same time, muscle elasticity and tone decrease. The intervertebral discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility with age, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae. The risk of spinal stenosis also increases with age. Fitness level: Back pain is more common among people who are not physically fit. Weak back and abdominal muscles may not properly support the spine. Studies show that low-impact aerobic exercise can help maintain the integrity of intervertebral discs.
Weight gain: Being overweight, obese, or quickly gaining significant amounts of weight can put stress on the back and lead to low back pain. Genetics: Some causes of back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis a form of arthritis that involves fusion of the spinal joints leading to some immobility of the spine , have a genetic component. Job-related factors: Having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, particularly when it involves twisting or vibrating the spine, can lead to injury and back pain.
Working at a desk all day can contribute to pain, especially from poor posture or sitting in a chair with not enough back support. Mental health: Anxiety and depression can influence how closely one focuses on their pain as well as their perception of its severity. Pain that becomes chronic also can contribute to the development of such psychological factors. Stress can affect the body in numerous ways, including causing muscle tension. Smoking: It can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the discs, causing them to degenerate faster.
Backpack overload in children: A backpack overloaded with schoolbooks and supplies can strain the back and cause muscle fatigue. Psychological factors: Mood and depression, stress, and psychological well-being also can influence the likelihood of experiencing back pain.
A complete medical history and physical exam can usually identify any serious conditions that may be causing the pain. Neurologic tests can help determine the cause of pain and appropriate treatment.
Imaging tests are not needed in most cases but may be ordered to rule out specific causes of pain, including tumors and spinal stenosis.
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