Top 7 Causes for Low Back Pain
Most people suffer from lower back pain at a certain point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the most common health issues worldwide. Lower back pain differs from person to another. Here are the top 7 causes of low back pain.
7. Coccydynia
The tailbone is called the coccyx. If you feel pain in the base of the spine, it is caused by Coccydynia. The pain varies from mild to severe because the coccyx and/or its surrounding tissue have been damaged. (1, 2, 3, 4)
6. Sciatica
Sciatica refers to the sciatic nerves, which run from the back of the pelvis down to the feet through both legs. It usually causes pain in the buttocks and the main cause of sciatica is slipped discs, which compresses the sciatic nerve. (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
5. Intervertebral Disc Prolapse
Having a slipped disc is one of the most common causes of lower back pain; it even can spread to other areas of the back and the body in case the disc bursts. The pain can be in the back and in the areas controlled by the nerve which will be compressed due to the disc prolapse. (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
4. Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis happens when the lower backbone (lumbar spine) slips out of its normal position and go to the bone underneath it. In this condition, the pain becomes worse when the patient does more activity and can lead to tight lower limbs. (16, 17, 18, 19)
3. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is very common, especially among older adults. It affects the joints making them painful and stiff. In most cases, the pain is limited to the affected joint. However, it can spread to other parts of the body. The joint pain and lower back pain usually become worse with the overuse of the joint and in some cases, it is constant. (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks its own joints making them inflamed, stiff, swollen, and in pain. At the beginning of the disease, the pain is due to joint inflammations but after a while, the source of the pain becomes the damage.
an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system – which protects your body from infection – mistakenly attacks the cells in your joints. (25, 26, 27)
1. Ankylosing Spondylitis
