What Are Some Common Lower Back Pain Causes
The causes of lower back pain are sometimes viewed as being mechanical, organic or idiopathic. Sometimes spinal conditions are congenital or acquired meaning the disorder develops later in life.
- Mechanical lower back pain is often triggered by spinal movement and involves spinal structures, such as the facet joints, intervertebral discs, vertebral bodies , ligaments, muscles or soft tissues.
- Organic lower back pain is attributed to disease, such as spinal cancer.
- Idiopathic refers to an unknown cause.
These are some of the things your doctor might look for or rule out when you schedule a visit for back pain.
The common symptoms of lower back pain.
Sprains and strains. Ligament sprains and muscle or tendon strains are the most common causes of lower back pain. Theyre often related to overuse.
Degenerative disc disease. While the name sounds worrisome, it just means you have a damaged disc causing pain. Over time, discs become thinner and flatter due to wear and tear. That leaves them less able to cushion the vertebrae and more likely to tear .
Herniated disc. The protective covering on intervertebral discs can tear over time. When this happens, the soft inner disc tissue may push through the outer layer. A disc that bulges or slips out of place is known as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or slipped disc. The herniation may press on nerve roots, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the area that the nerve serves
The Most Common Causes Of Lower Back Pain Are A Strain Or Sprain
Whether you notice it or not, your lumbar spine gets put to work throughout the entire day.
Amid all of this work and motion, a lower back sprain or strain can result from an acute injury, such as one experienced while falling, lifting something too heavy or playing sports. A sprain or strain can also develop over time due to repetitive movements or poor posture.
Straining a muscle or spraining a ligament are the most common causes of lower back pain, says Dr. Palmer. While they can be serious, these common causes of lower back pain arent long-lasting taking anywhere from a few days to heal or, at most, a few months.
Your doctor can help you determine the particular course of self-care that can help heal your lower back pain.
The treatment for a pulled back muscle or strained back ligament is fairly simple and can include pain and anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers, ice to help reduce inflammation, heat to promote healing, and avoiding strenuous activity until the pain recedes, explains Dr. Palmer. The best course of care will depend on the severity of your injury as well as your overall core and lower body strength.
If your lower back pain persists despite treatment, it may be time to consider other causes of lower back pain.
Iliac Crest Apophysis Avulsion
Avulsion fractures of the apophyses of the pelvis are rare injuries. This injury occurs mainly in young persons, between the ages of 8 and 14, before they’ve fully grown. That is because fusion of these bones does not occur until between the ages of 15 and 17 years. The cause is typically a contraction of muscles during extreme sports activity. Treatment includes rest and physical therapy as well as pain medications.
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Why Is Lower Back Pain Such A Common Problem
The bottom part of your back typically has just five vertebrae fewer than your neck and mid-back. And these vertebrae do a lot of heavy lifting! Your lower back is where your spine connects to your pelvis, bearing the weight of your upper body. This area experiences a lot of movement and stress, which may lead to wear, tear and injuries.
Treatment Options For Lower Back Pain
If you see a physiotherapist or GP for lower back pain, they will probably encourage you to try the self-help measures outlined above first. They can also advise you on what exercises you can do to help your back, or may refer you to a group exercise programme. But if your pain doesnt improve, they may be able to recommend other options you can try. They can also refer you to a specialist if necessary.
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Lower Back Pain: What Could It Be
Do you have lower back pain? You are not alone. Anyone can experience lower back pain at any time, even if you dont have a prior injury or any of the risk factors. It is not always serious and can often get better on its own. But in some cases pain is your bodys way of telling you that something isnt right.
Learn more about lower back pain and what causes it from rehabilitation physician Akhil Chhatre, M.D., who specializes in back pain in the Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
What Does It Mean If Lower Back Pain Is Shooting Into Legs
Lower back pain can radiate to other parts of the body: up or down from its place of origin. Sometimes lower back pain can be on one side of the back, which is also normal.
If the pain is shooting from the lower back into one or both legs, it could be sciatica , but its not always the case. There are many parts in the lower back that may cause the pain to radiate into the legs, such as facet joints, sacroiliac joints, muscles or inflammation of the bursa.
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Hip Pain Vs Low Back Pain Summary
To summarize the information above, heres how to tell if you have hip or back pain.
- If the pain radiates from the hip and groin area and spreads down to your thigh and knee, then your hip is most likely the source of the pain.
- If the pain radiates from your low back, buttocks, hips, and hamstring, you are most likely dealing with a lower back or spinal problem.
Again, taking medication such as Advil for back pain and hip pain can be effective. However, getting a kind of care that addresses the root of the issue is better.
You may need upper cervical chiropractic care to correct the underlying cause of lower back pain, such as nerve and spinal issues. Your upper cervical spine is responsible for the balance of your head and neck. A misalignment in this topmost region of your spine can irritate your spinal nerves, leading to lower back pain issues. So, correcting upper cervical misalignment is the best way to prevent low back pain from recurring. After addressing this problem, you may experience long-term relief and complete recovery.
What Organs Are Located Above Or Near The Left Hip
Your lower left abdomen is sometimes referred to as the left lower quadrant . The left lower quadrant is the area on your left side between your belly button and your pelvis.
Dr. Jacqueline Payne on Patient.info says that organs near or above the left hip that can cause pain include the following:1
- Part of your large bowel. Digestive issues can cause inflammation or infections that can affect the area just above your left hip bone.
- Your left kidney. Although located in your left upper quadrant above the hip, stones in your left kidney can cause referred left-sided hip pain.
- The left ovary and fallopian tube. Part of a womens reproductive system is in the LLQ. Cysts or polyps in the left ovary can be a source of pain on the left side above the hip bone and back.
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Pain And Stiffness In The Lower Back And Hip
A feeling of stiffness can accompany pain in the lower back and hip. This symptom is typically a protective mechanism of the body to prevent further injury in the area. Stiffness that occurs with pain can be debilitating and reduce function in the back, hip, and leg considerably. Here are a few common conditions that may cause these symptoms to occur together.
Is It Hip Pain Or Back Pain Lets Locate The Pain
Shooting pain in the lower part of your body can be a little hard to trace. Its because the pain can either be coming from the hips or the lower back. Either way, you can take Advil for back pain and hip pain relief. But if you want to correct and fix the problem, your physician must identify where the pain is coming from.
This blog will trace the root of your painthe hip or back?
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How To Get Relief From Left Side Pain Above The Hip
Putting a hot or cold compress on the painful left hip area can help to relieve the pain and increase joint movement in your left leg.
Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD advises when to use cold therapy and when to use heat therapy for hip joint pain.
- Cold therapy. Cold helps to reduce inflammation in sore hip joints and can also alleviate pain from a pinched nerve. Cold therapy is good for arthritic conditions and other inflammatory pain in your left hip area.
- Heat therapy. Use heat to help increase circulation to the painful area above your left hip joint. Heat therapy helps to relax muscles and can help ease abdominal cramping, herniated discs, or chronic back pain.
To find out how to make your own heat treatment compresses, please read my article on how to use cold or heat therapy for pain relief.
How To Relieve Right Side Pain Above The Hip
Generally, addressing the underlying cause of back pain or lower abdominal pain above the hip should alleviate the pain. However, a hot or cold compress can help to relieve most types of right side pain above the hip.
Doctors from the Mayo Clinic explain which method is best for relieving hip pain or lower abdominal pain.26
- Cold compress. Cold packs help to reduce blood flow to the inflamed area and reduce swelling. This can help to reduce lower back pain above the right hip if you have a pinched nerve or inflammation in your joints.
- Heating pad. Heat increases blood flow and also eases stiff muscles and ligaments. Very often, heat is good for alleviating pain from cramping, chronic back pain, or herniated discs.
- Combination of cold and heat. Alternatively, you can try alternating between a cold compress and a heating pad to get better pain relief.
You can find out how to use cold packs or heat therapy for natural pain relief.
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How Can You Prevent Rhabdomyolysis
You may not be able to prevent rhabdomyolysis that occurs as a result of an accident. But you can reduce your risk of developing exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis. To lower your risk of getting rhabdomyolysis, you should:
- Start an exercise program slowly, and listen to your body. If you feel especially sore or tired during a workout, stop and rest. Dont push yourself beyond safe limits.
- Stay hydrated and avoid getting overheated. Take breaks in the shade if youre doing physical activity in the heat.
- Dont abuse alcohol or take illegal drugs.
- Talk to your doctor about any medications youre taking that may increase your risk of developing rhabdomyolysis. Be especially careful if you have diabetes or liver disease.
Right Side Pain Above Hip: Symptoms Causes And Effective Treatments
Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Health
Pain on your right side above your hip may be caused by issues with organs in your lower right abdomen, spine, hip bone, or pelvic area. Aching pains near your right hip can be a source of daily discomfort. The right hip pain can be so severe and intense that it makes walking or moving your body difficult. Sometimes, gnawing pains or dull aches above the hip can feel relentless and it can be challenging to get rid of the hip pain.
Many people who suffer from back pain above the right hip often find that the aching hip pains spread to other parts of the body. For example, if the cause of hip pain is due to a herniated disc or pinched nerve, you might have shooting pains down your right leg. Inflammation in the hip socket could also result in tenderness around the hip area.
Both men and women can suffer from right side pain above the hips and below the ribs. This is because gastrointestinal problems, appendicitis, kidney stones, or an abdominal hernia can cause intense right-sided pain. However, problems with a womans reproductive organs like ovarian cysts or endometriosis can result in female pain in the right hip area.
In this article, you will find out what it means if you frequently suffer from right side pain above the hip. You will learn how to naturally relieve most types of right-sided pain near the hip.
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Need To Fix The Root Of The Problem
When certain muscles work too hard a muscle imbalance occurs. During this imbalance, other muscles do not work hard enough.
Your muscles are complementarily designed for the proper balance of the body. These are not designed to compete with each other.
Literally, everything can be pulled off the track if an overly weak or dominant muscle is contained. You need to know about muscle balance therapy.
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What Is Sciatica
Sciatica refers to back pain caused by a problem with the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg. When something injures or puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, it can cause pain in the lower back that spreads to the hip, buttocks, and leg. Up to 90% of people recover from sciatica without surgery.
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How We Can Help
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor and emergency room visits in the U.S. Its a leading cause of lost workdays and long-term disability. Not seeking medical attention and allowing the pain to persist will only cause the condition to worsen.
Atlantic Spine Specialists are board-certified and specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of back pain. We are dedicated to relieving and restoring function to help our patients have the best quality of life. No matter what the cause of your pain, receiving an extensive spinal examination and accurate diagnosis are the first steps to resolving the issue. At Atlantic Spine Specialists our doctors will prescribe the best treatment plan for you.
To learn more about diagnosis and treatment,request a consultation at Atlantic Spine Specialists in Morristown, New Jersey. Or call us at 971-3500 to schedule your appointment.
Identify The Causes And Fix Coccyx Pain
Is your lower back keeping you up nights? Has suffering lower back pain right above tailbone level forced you to eat NSAIDS like jellybeans?
Do you wake up every morning with a sensation like broken glass in your lower back?
Donât lose hope, keep reading to learn the 4 steps you can take that will soothe the pain, resolve potential causes of your low back pain and put you on the road to recovery.
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What Causes Lower Back Pain In Women
Lower back pain doesnt have one specific cause. There is more to this problem than strains and sprains or pregnancy. As mentioned above, some people dont even know what causes pain in this area, but finding out is crucial in order to improve the quality of life and alleviate discomfort you experience.
Since lower back pain in women has a wide array of different causes and some of them arent even related to your back, well assess the most common factors separately below.
*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.
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When Should I See A Doctor If I Have Lower Back Pain
In many cases lower back pain stops on its own. But if it doesnt, here are some guidelines on when you may want to start seeking professional help:
- If the pain lasts four weeks or longer
- If the pain keeps getting worse as time goes by
- If you are experiencing other symptoms, such as fever, major weight loss or weight gain, loss of function or weakness in extremities, bladder problems, etc.
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How Is A Diagnosis Made
A medical exam will help determine whether the SI joint is the source of your pain. Evaluation includes a medical history and physical exam. Your physician will consider all the information you provided, including any history of injury, location of your pain, and problems standing or sleeping.
There are specific tests to determine whether the SI joint is the source of pain. You may be asked to stand or move in different positions and point to where you feel pain. Your doctor may manipulate your joints or feel for tenderness over your SI joint.
Imaging studies, such as X-ray, CT, or MRI, may be ordered to help in the diagnosis and to check for other spine and hip related problems.
A diagnostic SI joint injection may be performed to confirm the cause of pain. The SI joint is injected with a local anesthetic and corticosteroid medication. The injection is given using X-ray fluoroscopy to ensure accurate needle placement in the SI joint. Your pain level is evaluated before and 20-30 minutes after injection, and monitored over the next week. Sacroiliac joint involvement is confirmed if your pain level decreases by more than 75%. If your pain level does not change after the injection, it is unlikely that the SI joint is the cause of your low back pain.