Chronic
back pain is one of the most widespread ailments in America. Symptoms of this
ongoing or recurring pain often appear in the lower back, known more formally
as the lumbar spine region. A main reason for the number of people affected by
chronic lower back pain is the sheer number of conditions that can produce significant symptoms. Prominent examples of these conditions include:
·
Ruptured or
herniated spinal discs – These cushioning discs, which sit between the
individual bones in the spinal column, can trigger serious pain when they break
open or deform as a result of exposure to excessive pressure.
·
Disc
Degeneration – Over time, the cushioning spinal discs can degenerate and
lose their ability to adequately protect the spine. In turn, loss of proper
disc spacing can lead to recurring or constant lower back pain.
·
Traumatic
injuries – These types of injuries are typically the result of motor
vehicle accidents, accidental falls and participation in contact or non-contact
sports. They can lead to ruptured discs and a range of other chronic lower back
injuries.
·
Nerve
Compression or Inflammation (Radiculopathy) – Nerves leaving the spinal column on their
way to the rest of the body are sometimes placed under abnormal forces that
lead to excessive pressure and/or the swelling associated with
inflammation. Specific causes of this
problem include herniated discs and pinching of the lengthy sciatic nerve,
which runs from the buttocks down the back of each leg.
·
Spinal
Stenosis – This condition stems from abnormal narrowing of the space
available for the spinal cord inside the spinal column and/or narrowing of the
space available for the nerves exiting the spinal column and traveling to the
body.
It can be
quite difficult to determine which specific problem contributes to chronic
lumbar pain in any given individual. For this reason, proper diagnosis of
underlying causes commonly includes input from a doctor who specializes in pain
treatment.
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