What Causes Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain can be caused by muscle or ligament strain from heavy lifting, sudden movements, or poor posture...
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- Muscle or Ligament Strain: Often due to heavy lifting, sudden movements, or poor posture
- Herniated or Bulging Discs
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can lead to narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis
- Skeletal Irregularities: Conditions like scoliosis can lead to back pain
- Osteoporosis: Bones become porous and brittle, leading to fractures
Symptoms of Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain can feel like a constant dull ache or sharp shooting pain that spreads down the leg. It may limit your movement and get worse...
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- Muscle Ache: A constant, dull ache in the lower back
- Shooting or Stabbing Pain: Pain that may radiate down the leg
- Limited Flexibility or Range of Motion
- Pain Worsening with Bending, Lifting, Standing, or Walking
- Improvement with Reclining: Lying down may relieve pressure and reduce pain
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if your lower back pain doesn’t improve with rest or medication, or if the pain spreads down one or both legs,...
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- Persistent Pain that doesn’t improve with rest or over-the-counter treatments
- Radiating Pain that spreads down one or both legs, especially if it extends below the knee
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs
- Unintended weight loss accompanied by back pain
- Bladder or Bowel Problems, difficulty controlling these functions, can indicate a serious condition
- Fever along with back pain, which could suggest an infection
At-Home Pain Relief
Stay active with low-impact activities like walking or swimming to keep muscles strong, and use heat or ice to reduce pain and inflammation...
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- Staying active and engaging in low-impact activities like walking or swimming to keep muscles strong
- Applying a heating pad or ice pack to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain
- Maintain Good Posture
- Gentle and regular stretching can improve flexibility and reduce tension
- Mind-Body Techniques/Practices like yoga, meditation, or tai chi can help manage pain and reduce stress
