Common Sources of Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is an issue that most people experience at some point during their lifetime. In many of these circumstances, the pain is focused in the lower back and it is non-specific: no primary cause is determined. Of these cases, about two to ten percent develop into chronic pain problems, affecting daily living for three or more months. If you have been dealing with this for a lengthy duration, and it is starting to interfere with daily life, contact a medical professional to see what your options for treatment could be. Some of the most often seen roots of this issue are:

A Bulging or Ruptured Disc

Discs - the spongy pieces of cartilage sitting between the spinal vertebrae for cushioning - can press on a nerve due to a bulge or rupture. Sometimes this happens and you may not even have pain. In these situations, discovery often occurs via spine x-rays taken due to another issue.

Muscle or Ligament Strain

When you twist, lift a heavy object, or do a sudden movement that leads to muscles or ligaments stretching and developing microscopic tears, this can create a strain that leads to pain. If your physical condition is poor, constant pressure on your back from normal stress can also lead to painful muscle spasms.

Skeletal Irregularities

Some spines have irregular curvatures and this can be a contributing factor for back pain. Scoliosis is one of these conditions which can result in back pain, but this typically only happens in severe cases.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

Also referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine or degenerative arthritis, this is a state that develops bit by bit over time. It happens when cartilage between spinal facet joints deteriorates. Initially your symptoms may appear intermittently, but they can gradually turn into a regular, unceasing low back pain. Sciatica may result from this ailment as well.  

Reasons for Experiencing Chronic Lower Back Pain

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.