Often, we may feel a stinging and sudden pain in the lower back. It can because of sitting for long hours in the same position. Lower back pain is a common condition and usually, there is no cause for concern as it gets better on its own. Almost everyone, at some point in their life, has faced it. However, at times the pain can be as a result of injuries or straining of muscles or because of some diseases, one can feel intense pain or ache in their lower back. 

Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

One can easily detect lower back pain as they feel a dull ache in their back. The pain can be acute or chronic, varying from person to person and what injury they have.  Symptoms can aggravate over time, some of them are –

  • Dull ache- The pain is felt in the lower back, usually when there is a minor injury or a muscle strain. One can experience severe spasms, and difficulty in moving. 
  • Stinging back pain that affects the buttocks, pelvis, hip, legs and the feet. 
  • Pain that intensifies as you sit for long hours, etc. 

What causes lower back pain? 

The human body is an intricate design and is prone to injuries if not taken care of.  There are numerous reasons why one may have a backache. Factors such as age, gender, etc. too can cause lower back pain. The pain can range from minor, dull ache in the back to intense pain that hurts when you move and hampers your daily life. 

Some of the possible causes are –  

  • Injuries  

Many a time, one can get severely injured while playing sports, driving or during road accidents or a fall that can inflict injury one. Receiving such a painful blow on the lower back can damage the spinal cord, or leave you with vertebral fractures. In cases such as these, it’s important to seek lower back pain treatment, to avoid any further complications. 

  • Sprains and strains

Sprains and strains of the ligaments and muscles, can occur in the lower back suddenly because of some heavy work. This can be as a result of overstretching or tearing in muscles and ligaments. Symptoms can include muscle spasms, pain and stiffness in the back. 

  • Disc Injury

The discs are the spongy cushions that are located between the vertebral column. These discs are delicate and are prone to injury as they can tear or herniate. The soft material in the discs can rupture or bulge and affect a nerve. Disc injury can occur after twisting your back or while lifting something heavy. Disc injury may go unnoticed or only seen during an X-ray. 

  • Sciatica

A person with sciatica can fell stinging pain that runs down from the lower back to one or both the legs. This is because the pain radiates along the path of the sciatica nerve. Symptoms may include burning pain or piercing of sharp needles. At home, for quick pain relief, one should use an ice pack at the sight of pain. 

  • Spinal stenosis 

In spinal stenosis, the spinal canal starts narrowing, which in return can add pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves in the spine. This condition is common amongst people over the age of 50 years. Spinal stenosis occurs due to the degeneration of the discs between the vertebral column. One may experience symptoms such as numbness, cramping and weakness in the legs. The very first symptoms that one may notice is difficulty while walking or standing.

  • Abnormal spinal curvature  

When seen in an X-ray, the spinal cord looks like a ‘S’ from the side. This is the normal spine curvature. However, some people are born with deformities. Abnormal curve can cause poor posture and pain as it puts pressure on the tendons, vertebrae, muscles and ligaments. Some of the abnormal spinal curvatures that are detected during childhood or early adolescence are- scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis. 

  • Health conditions. 

There are several health conditions that can be a cause for lower back pain. Some of them are as follows :

  • Arthritis is a medical condition wherein there is an inflammation of the joints. It is usually common among people of old age. 
  • Pregnancy, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, cancer, etc are the lower back pain causes in females. 
  • Spondylitis is another type of inflammation between the joints of the spinal cord. 

 

Can a neurologist help with lower back pain? 

The answer is YES. A neurologist can help with lower back pain. Very often people go to a chiropractor for back pain, however, what is not known is that even a neurologist can diagnose and treat diseases of the back. A neurologist specializes in conditions affecting the brain, nervous system and the spinal cord. They can detect the symptoms and causes for your back pain. 

 

While lower back pain is a common condition, it is necessary that you seek the proper treatment from an expert.