Common causes of chronic lower back pain

 The most common causes of chronic lower back pain are problems with the lumbar disks, nerves, joints, or vertebrae. "Chroniclower back pain is less likely to be caused by injury to your muscles and ligaments." Chronic lower back pain can be brought on by a number of different factors.

Many kinds of chronic lower back pain are generally caused by osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis, and degenerative disk disease, which is caused by the natural wear and tear of spinal disks. However, accident-related trauma and acute stress can also cause lower back pain.

 

Herniated disk

"The adult's thoracic and lumbar spine is made up of about 17 bones (vertebrae) that are stacked on top of each other." Herniated disk "Dr. Palmer explains that there is a cushiony disk between each set of vertebrae that helps absorb the pressure on these bones," he says.

There is an outer rind and an inner gel to each disk.

A herniated lumbar disk is when one of the five disks in your lumbar spine's inner gel slips or squeezes beyond the outer rind, allowing the inner gel to press on surrounding nerves and cause pain. Trauma or gradual aging-related wear and tear can cause slippage.

 

Damage to the facet joints

The facet joints, which connect the five vertebrae that make up your lower back, experience a lot of compressive force and stress. Lower back pain can result from cartilage breakdown in your facet joints over time.

Dr. Palmer explains, "Whether due to poor posture or repeated overuse, facet joint damage is frequently caused by osteoarthritis and can cause inflammation, stiffness, muscle spasming, and pain." Additionally, sciatica can result from damage to a facet joint impinging on a nearby nerve.

 

Compression fracture:

"When a vertebra in your lumbar spine basically collapses in on itself, you get a spinal compression fracture." This can be brought on by trauma or osteoporosis, as Dr. Palmer explains.

This collapse can be very painful, and people who have a lumbar compression fracture often get pain right away and can't move their spine as well.

 

Spinal stenosis:

When the spinal canal in your lower back narrows, it puts pressure on the nerves in the area. The development of bone spurs, thickening of a nearby ligament, or degeneration of a lumbar disk or joint are all possible causes.

According to Dr. Palmer, "it can be very painful when nerve roots become compressed." Additionally, in addition to causing pain in the lower back, spinal stenosis can also cause sciatica, which is pain that spreads to the lower extremities.

 

Spondylolisthesis

The lumbar disk that separates the two vertebrae is significantly compressed when a lumbar vertebra slips forward, over the top of the vertebra below it. Pain in the lower back can be caused by the deterioration of the lumbar disk. Additionally, sciatica and nerve compression may occur if the lumbar disk flattens as a result of this force.

"Isthmic spondylolisthesis, one of the more common types of spondylolisthesis, is brought on by a fracture in the small piece of bone called the pars interarticularis that is located next to the facet joint. Dr. Palmer explains, "The fracturing event frequently occurs when a person is young, although the pain is not felt until later in life." There are also degenerative and congenital causes of spondylolisthesis."

 

Scoliosis

Your spine naturally curves in the shape of an "S" when viewed from the side, with your upper back bending in the opposite direction and your lower back bending in the opposite direction. Scoliosis, on the other hand, is a spinal deformity that can cause back pain if your spine curves inward when viewed from behind.

Dr. Palmer warns, "Degeneration of the lumbar joints and disks is more likely when the spine takes an improper curvature." Scoliosis doesn't usually need to be treated, but severe curvature can put a lot of stress on the lower back and cause pain.

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