Back Pain
Common Causes of Back Pain
Back pain often has multiple factors, most of which are related to prolonged sitting or standing, poor posture, and lack of exercise, leading to muscle inflammation. Fatigue, tension, and inflammation of the back muscles can all contribute to back pain, especially in individuals who maintain the same posture for long periods or lack exercise.
Lumbar Strain: Maintaining the same posture for long periods, excessive or insufficient exercise, incorrect posture, etc.
Herniated Disc: Injury to the intervertebral disc leading to a reduction in collagen fibers and cartilage mass within the disc.
Spinal Arthritis: Damage to the spinal joints, leading to spinal deformity and curvature.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the space within the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Osteoporosis: Decreased bone density, making fractures more likely.
Other Diseases: Kidney infections, cystitis, peritonitis, and other conditions.
Other Causes
Low back pain and back pain are usually adjacent areas, and their sensations can be categorized into structural, inflammatory, and organ-related types, each with its characteristics, which can initially suggest possible causes.
Structural low back pain refers to pain that begins after a certain posture or movement, usually related to bodily structures such as abnormalities in bones, muscles, and nerves. For example, muscle strains from lifting heavy objects can cause back pain, or conditions like herniated discs compressing nerves or spinal stenosis.
Inflammatory low back pain, on the other hand, tends to be more painful after a period of inactivity, such as when getting out of bed in the morning, but gradually eases with movement. This type is usually associated with bodily inflammation, such as inflammatory arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or inflammatory bowel diseases.
Additionally, inflammatory low back pain may also be caused by tumors, such as bone metastases from breast cancer. Therefore, if someone with a history of breast cancer experiences low back pain, they should be particularly vigilant, especially if there are symptoms of unexplained weight loss.
Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain
Acute low back pain is usually caused by injuries to the muscles or spine, such as sprains or strains, and may also be due to herniated discs or spinal fractures. Additionally, infections, tumors, and other pathological factors can also lead to acute low back pain. Acute low back pain is typically felt as a sharp pain at the moment of the injury, but it may temporarily subside after a short rest. By the next morning, the patient may begin to feel stiffness, severe pain, muscle tightness, and an inability to move freely.
Chronic low back pain involves multiple factors. For example, long-term poor posture, repetitive strain injuries, muscle tension, and degenerative joint disease can all lead to damage to the spinal structure and muscle tissue, resulting in the occurrence of low back pain. Furthermore, chronic low back pain may also be related to spinal degeneration, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, scoliosis, and spondylolisthesis. These degenerative changes can lead to alterations in spinal structure and function, resulting in symptoms such as nerve root compression, muscle tension, and pain.
What are the differences between left low back pain, right low back pain, and lower back pain?
Low back pain on the left and right sides is usually caused by strains, sprains or muscle tension in the waist muscles or ligaments.
The pain may extend down into the buttocks or thighs, and the patient may also experience stiffness, numbness, or tingling.
Lower back pain is usually caused by damage to the intervertebral discs, lumbar vertebrae, or spinal soft tissues (back muscles, ligaments).
Five ways to relieve back pain
1. Rest: It can reduce the burden and pressure on the lower back muscles and relieve pain and tension. Exercises need to be properly coordinated to reduce conditions that lead to muscle atrophy and stiffness.
2. Use warm water to bathe or apply warm towel to the affected area (if you are a chronically ill patient, you should avoid using hot water to bathe)
3. Treatment: A chiropractor can develop a personalized treatment plan based on the patient’s specific situation.
4. Lose weight: Being overweight may cause additional burden and pressure on the lower back muscles, increasing the risk of lower back pain.
5. When lifting heavy objects, try not to bend down. Instead, bend your knees and squat down before lifting the object.
6. When driving for a long time or working in an office, use a back cushion or pillow to support your waist. If you suspect that you have low back pain, it is recommended to consult a doctor first and conduct an X-ray diagnosis to detect spinal structural problems.