Lower Back Pain – Causes, Symptoms and When to See an Orthopedist

Posted On: December 28, 2022

At some point in time, you might have suffered from back pain but the reasons are known to you, like, you might have slept in an awkward posture or sat for too long or simply lifted something super heavy. But there are times when some people may experience mysterious lower back pain for no plausible reason. That's when you head to your general practitioner to get it diagnosed. The discomfort and pain can be mild or unbearable, depending on the severity of the condition with your lumbar spine or the lower back.

Causes and Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

There can be a number of causes for lower back pain and while some can be treated with rest and self-care, others might not be so simple and need back pain treatment. Listed here are some of the most common causes of lower back pain:

• Obesity or being overweight puts extra pressure on the lumbar spine which bears the weight of the whole upper body and aids in its movements.
• Age factors also play an important role in the development of lower back pain due to the wear and tear of the joints, ligaments and bones in people over 30 years of age.
• Sedentary lifestyle has increased the risk of developing pain in the lower back due to prolonged sitting in one position and lack of exercise and healthy food intake.
• Deteriorating mental health and conditions like depression and anxiety also cause lower back pain in some people.
• Family history of bone-related diseases
• Unhealthy practices like excess alcohol consumption, smoking etc. are also passive causes of such pain.

The symptoms of lower back pain may include:

• Stiffness in the muscles on your back. You might want to loosen up your muscles more often than usual and notice a gradual reduction in the range of movement.
• Difficulty in maintaining correct posture while sitting or standing due to the constant pain in the back.
• Muscle spasms that are extremely painful and can adversely affect your quality of life.

When to Seek Orthopedic Consultation for Back Pain Treatment?

When your lower back pain doesn’t heal even after all the rest and self-care, you might want to refer to an orthopedist or specialist of spines and bones to get yourself diagnosed. Here are some conditions that require you to go for orthopedic consultation for back pain treatment:

• Scoliosis: When viewed from the side, the natural curve of our spine is an S-shaped curve which looks like a straight line when viewed from the back. If this straight line bends sideways, it is known as a condition called scoliosis, a spinal deformity that can cause lower back pain.
• Spondylolisthesis: The slipping of a lumbar vertebra over its lower counterpart causes increased strain on the lumbar disc between them. The deterioration of that disc causes lower back pain and can lead to nerve compression and sciatica.
• Spinal stenosis: When the spinal canal in your lower back narrows down due to the formation of bone spurs, degradation of the lumbar disc or thickening of nearby ligaments, it puts pressure on the nerve roots. This is very painful and radiates to other lower body parts as well.
• Compression fracture: It is caused when the lumbar spinal vertebra collapses on itself commonly due to osteoporosis. The condition is accompanied by severe lower back pain and restricted or painful mobility.
• Herniated disc: Commonly known as slip disc, a herniated disc is caused when the soft internal section of the spinal disc slips through the tough exterior through the cracks and presses the nerves. This irritates the nerves and causes lower back pain in people.
• Facet joint damage: Facet joints are the ones connecting your vertebrae in the lower back. Due to old age or overexertion, the cartilage of the joints may break down, causing lower back pain.

Orthopedic Rehabilitation Centre at Shalby Hospitals in India

Shalby Multispecialty Hospitals is a globally established and renowned name in the field of Orthopedic care. As an establishment with over 30 years of experience and rich goodwill, Shalby Hospitals is passionately committed to patient care and hence we provide the best treatment. To provide our patients with utmost care and ensure that they can live an enhanced quality of life, Shalby has a dedicated unit for Orthopedic Rehabilitation that trains and works closely with patients to enable them in different ways so that they can take care of themselves independently. Shalby is empanelled with all leading insurance companies in case of surgery requirements. You can book an appointment online for a personal visit or book a video consultation with our experts.