What causes lower back pain
Lower back pain is an annoying and fairly common complaint that restricts movement and makes walking, standing, and even sitting difficult. People with lower back pain usually suspect a herniated disc right away, but lower back pain can have many other causes. Since the intensity of pain varies from person to person and cannot be precisely measured, it is difficult to guess what is causing the condition based on pain alone. With the right questions asked by a doctor, it can be determined whether the lower back pain stems from stress, poor posture, or degeneration.
Lower back pain has many causes, which are summarized below.
STRENGTHENING THE ABDOMINAL MUSCLES RELIEVES THE LOWER BACK
Muscle-Related Pain: Most lower back pain is muscular in origin. As a result of an activity that is more strenuous than you are used to, the muscles in the lower back area can become strained. Your lower back may hurt after lifting objects, carrying luggage, or a long trip, but this type of pain usually passes after some rest. In addition, factors such as seasonal changes, exposure to wind, or being hit by air conditioning can also cause these muscles to tighten and lead to lower back pain.
Another culprit behind lower back pain can be weak abdominal muscles. When the abdominal muscles are weak, the muscles in the lower back area kick in to compensate for that weakness. However, this places extra load on the lower back area. Abdominal muscles can be strengthened through correct posture and regular exercise. Strengthening the abdominal muscles is important for relieving the lower back. This way, your lower back is not easily injured.
Pain Caused by Stress and Mental Strain: We know that stress harms our body in various ways. One of these is lower back pain. Lower back muscles that tighten due to the stress hormone cause lower back pain. Especially with the stress of work life, the body, tense throughout the day, sends out a distress signal in this way. People who dislike their jobs, who dream all day of being somewhere else, and who work under stress may complain of lower back pain.
WHEN WE SIT IN THE WRONG POSITION...
Poor Posture: Sitting motionless for long hours is among the most common causes of lower back pain. Today, this complaint is increasingly seen especially in people who work sitting down without getting up from the computer. When poor sitting posture is added to inactivity, the pain enters an even worse vicious cycle. When we sit in the wrong position, the muscles in our lower back adopt a slack position. This slack position of the muscles means they fail to adequately support the vertebrae. This way, both the wear process of the vertebrae accelerates and the risk of disc slippage increases.
Herniated Disc (Lumbar Discopathy): Herniated disc is also known as sciatica or disc herniation. As a result of heavy lifting, straining movements, or an accident, the structure of the discs between the vertebrae can deteriorate or tear, causing the gel-like material between the vertebrae to protrude — this is how a herniated disc occurs. The compression of nerves in the area caused by the herniation can lead to lower back pain and, over time, severe radicular pain extending down to the heel.
There are different types of herniated discs, and not every herniated disc necessarily requires surgery. In hernia surgery, the herniated disc material is removed. If care is not taken after surgery, the hernia can recur. One should not smoke, should avoid gaining weight, should not lift heavy objects, and should sleep on a mattress suitable for back health.
Excess Weight: Excess weight threatens a person's health in many different ways. In addition to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, excess weight means placing an excessive load on the lower back, resulting in lower back pain.
I will continue explaining the causes of lower back pain in my next article.
Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Nazlıkul