Lower Back Pain

Sprain/Strain of Muscles and/or Ligaments

Strains occur when a muscle is stretched too far and tears, damaging the muscle itself.  

Sprains happen when the ligaments are over-stretched and/or torn.  Ligaments provide stability to the spine by connecting the bones together.

This can happen from falls, repetitive twisting, or lifting heavy objects.  While sprains and strains do not sound serious and do not typically cause long-lasting pain, the acute pain can be quite severe.  Sometimes, muscles will spasm to protect the body from further movement.  Absolute rest is contraindicated and providing the body with guided progressive movement will promote healing.

Poor Posture

Over time, poor posture can put undo stress on other body parts.  This may cause muscle imbalance and decreased range of motion and often leads to pain and discomfort.  It can be from prolonged sitting or poor lifting mechanics.  Most often people are aware their posture is bad, but are unsure how to effectively fix it.

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

At birth, our intervertebral discs are full of water and at their healthiest. As we age, discs lose hydration and wear down.  As the disc loses hydration and height, it is not able to resist forces as well which can lead to disc collapse, stenosis, or herniation. Degenerative disc disease occurs when the cushioning in your spine begins to wear away. The condition is most common in older adults. After age 40, most people experience some spinal degeneration and it is not known why some feel discomfort and others do not.

Herniated Disc

The jelly-like center of a lumbar disc can break through the tough outer layer and irritate a nearby nerve root. The herniated portion of the disc is full of proteins that  can quickly cause inflammation and nerve root compression. The disc wall is also richly supplied by nerve fibers, and a tear through the wall can cause severe pain, including numbness and tingling down into the buttocks and legs.

Spondylolisthesis

This is a condition where one vertebra has moved out of place.  Commonly seen in gymnasts, cheerleaders, and football lineman, as their spines tends to extend backwards with too much repetitive force.  The pain can be caused by instability in the back or compression of the nerves.

Spondylosis

Referred to as “osteoarthritis” of the spine.  Often this leads to a decrease in flexibility and strength.  As we age, these symptoms become more prevalent. Changes can occur with repeated trauma or microtrauma, occupations that involve heavy physical labor, or poor lifting mechanics.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum at the bottom of the spine to each side of the pelvis.  It is a strong, slow-motion joint that primarily absorbs shock and tension between the upper body and the lower body.  The sacroiliac joint can become painful if it becomes inflamed or if there is too much or too little motion of the joint.  Women tend to have more SI related symptoms than men, due to their wider pelvic angle and lesser muscle mass.  Often, gymnasts and dancers have SI pain due to their high need for flexibility.

Sciatica

A common condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve which runs from each side of your spine down to your legs becomes pinched or compressed by surrounding tissues or muscles spasm.  With sciatica, inflammation at the nerve root can cause weakness in the legs or impaired sensation in the leg.  Sciatica can be caused by degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis.

Spinal Stenosis

This condition causes pain due to narrowing of the spinal canal where the nerve roots are located. The narrowing can be central (where the spinal cord is), foraminal (where the individual nerves exit), or both.  Stenosis can occur at a single level or at multiple levels in the lower back. This can progress over time and become more severe.  In severe cases, surgery may be indicated.