Occupation and lifestyle: Jobs and activities that require heavy lifting or bending can increase the risk of a back injury. Structural problems: Severe back pain can result from conditions, such as scoliosis, that change spine alignment. Disease: People who have a family history of osteoarthritis, certain types of cancer, and other diseases have a higher risk of low back pain.
Mental Health: Back pain can result from depression and anxiety. What are the symptoms of lower back pain? Symptoms of lower back pain can come on suddenly or appear gradually. Symptoms of lower back pain can come on suddenly or appear gradually. Sometimes, pain occurs after a specific event, such as bending to pick something up. Other times, you may not know what caused the pain. Pain may be sharp or dull and achy, and it may radiate to your bottom or down the back of your legs (sciatica). If you strain your back during an activity, you may hear a “pop” when it happened. Pain is often worse in certain positions (like bending over) and gets better when you lie down. Other symptoms of lower back pain include: Stiffness: It may be tough to move or straighten your back. Getting up from a seated position may take a while, and you might feel like you need to walk or stretch to loosen up. You may notice a decreased range of motion. Posture problems: Many people with back pain find it hard to stand up straight. You may stand “crooked” or bent
with your torso off to the side rather than aligned with your spine. Your lower back may look flat instead of curved. Muscle spasms: After a strain, muscles in the lower back can spasm or contract uncontrollably. Muscle spasms can cause extreme pain and make it difficult or impossible to stand, walk or move. What causes lower back pain? Many injuries, conditions, and diseases can cause lower back pain. They include: Strains and sprains: Back strains and sprains are the most common cause of back pain. You can injure muscles, tendons, or ligaments by lifting something too heavy or not lifting safely. Some people strain their back by sneezing, coughing, twisting, or bending over. Fractures: The bones in the spine can break during an accident, like a car crash or a fall. Certain conditions (such as spondylolysis or osteoporosis) increase the risk of fractures.
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease