1. Health

Guide To Lower Back Pain

By , About.com Guide

Updated May 27, 2006

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3 of 10

Part 3 of 10 - What Causes Lower Back Pain?

Aging Process

As people age, bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease. The discs begin to lose fluid and flexibility, which decreases their ability to cushion the vertebrae.

Injury & Trauma

Pain can occur when, for example, someone lifts something too heavy or overstretches, causing a sprain, strain, or spasm in one of the muscles or ligaments in the back.

If the spine becomes overly strained or compressed, a disc may rupture or bulge outward. This rupture may put pressure on one of the more than 50 nerves rooted to the spinal cord that control body movements and transmit signals from the body to the brain. When these nerve roots become compressed or irritated, back pain results.

Low back pain may also reflect:

  • nerve irritation
  • muscle problems
  • bone lesions
  • Other Causes

    Most low back pain follows injury or trauma to the back, but pain may also be caused by:

  • osteoarthritis
  • osteoporosis or other bone diseases
  • viral infections
  • irritation to joints and discs
  • congenital abnormalities in the spine
  • scar tissue
  • Other Factors

    Other factors that contribute to low back pain include:

  • obesity/weight gain
  • smoking
  • stress
  • poor physical condition/posture
  • poor sleeping position
  • Serious Problems

    Low back pain may also indicate a more serious medical problem. People with back pain along with fever, loss of bowel or bladder control, pain when coughing, progressive weakness or pain radiating into the legs should contact a doctor immediately to help prevent permanent damage.

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