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Lower Back
Pain |
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Part 1: Causes of
lower back pain
Eight out of ten Americans will experience a backache at some point. Back pain
is the second most common reason for doctor visits in the U.S. The causes of
lower back pain are numerous. Some of the more common causes of lower back pain are:
- Sudden injury to the
back such as may occur in an auto accident, fall, sports, or other manner.
- Gynecological
conditions such as endometriosis, menstrual cramps, fibroid tumors, and
pregnancy are sometimes the cause of lower back pain in women.
- Stress to the muscles,
nerves, or ligaments in the lower back.
- Certain jobs such as
those that require repetitive movements, sitting in chairs that are not
ergonomically proper for your back, or standing for long
periods of time often increase back stress and cause lower back pain.
- Arthritis,
osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and other bone or joint diseases often cause
lower back pain.
- Not getting enough
physical activity, being sedentary, or being overweight often stresses the
lower back causing pain.
- Slipped discs, pinched
nerves, sciatica, aging, and infections are other common causes of lower
back pain.
- Smoking. More than 1300
physicians were followed from time of graduation (1948-1964) from John
Hopkins University, some for over fifty years. The researchers found that
smoking history, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (risk factors for
atherosclerosis, occlusion of the arteries) are significantly associated
with development of lower back pain.
Because there are so many
causes of lower back pain, some serious such as spinal tumors, if you
experience lower back pain see your health care provider for diagnosis. If your
lower back pain is sudden and severe and it is not during your provider's office
hours, go immediately to your local hospital emergency room.
Find an Orthopaedic
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Symptoms of Lower Back Pain > Page 1,
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~ Tracee Cornforth
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