Do you have lower back pain? Do you want to enquire about its causes and treatment? This article explores all the major reasons for lower back pain or the lumbar spine. This informative resource also discusses other crucial topics like the anatomical structure of the spine and diagnostic tests.
Anatomy of Lower Back
The spine or backbone is a column of 33 small bones called vertebrae. The entire column or backbone is a structure where one vertebra sits under the other. The backbone has five sections, i.e., cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal.
The lower back is the region around the lumbar spine. It mainly contains vertebral bodies, the spinal cord and muscles. The lumbar spine only has 5 small bones, or vertebrae, denoted by L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5.
Causes of Lower Back Pain
The following conditions are the major reasons for back pain. The pain can also occur in a radiating manner, i.e., travelling from the lower back to other parts like the buttock, the thigh, the leg, etc.
Overuse Syndrome: Overusing the lower back results in pain. Conditions like prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, over-exercise, bad posture, bad lifting technique, sedentary lifestyle choices etc., lead to lower back pain.
When coupled with inadequate rest, each of such conditions is capable of causing chronic lower back pain.
Spondylolisthesis: The backbone or spine is a collection or column of small bones called vertebrae. These vertebral units compose the spinal column or the backbone as mentioned above in the anatomical discussion.
When one such small bone slips forwards out of its usual place, this condition of vertebral displacement is termed Spondylolisthesis in medical parlance. A vertebra in the lower spine can get displaced due to an injury, overuse or an internal condition, e.g., Osteoporosis.
Compression Fractures: Osteoporosis is the condition where bones become extremely weak and fragile because of low bone mass density. Osteoporosis leads to compression fractures in vertebral bones.
When a vertebra becomes more and more porous inside, it collapses ultimately. This condition is called a compression fracture. An extremely osteoporotic vertebra can compress or sustain a fracture even as a result of a mild fall or hit.
Degenerative Disc Disorder: Between two vertebrae or small spine bones, there lies a soft cushion called an intervertebral disc. The main purpose of this disc is to work as a shock absorber and facilitate mobility.
This disc contains a lot of gel and water content. It dehydrates and degenerates over time with age. Such changes cause a disc to collapse and become more and more flat. This condition of a worn-out disc is medically termed Degenerative Disc Disorder.
This condition is also called spinal osteoarthritis, spondylosis or disc degeneration.
Herniated Disc: This is another disc-related condition. The intervertebral disc is soft inside but hard outside. An injury can crack a disc on the outside. It will force the gel-like soft centre of the disc to come out of the crack. When this happens, the disc becomes herniated.
A herniated disc often leads to spinal stenosis and nerve compressions. It might lead to Sciatica and other neurological conditions, e.g., loss of sensations in parts below the waist.
Ankylosing Spondylitis: It is a type of arthritis that primarily affects spinal joints and ligaments. It is an inflammatory disease. It often leads to the fusion of two vertebrae, or spinal bones in its aggravated stage. Fusion makes the spine stiff and immobile, resulting in pain.
Stenosis: The backbone is vertically hollow inside. This space is known as the spinal canal, the vertebral canal or the spinal cavity. The main function of this canal is to encase the spinal cord.
The narrowing of this canal is called spinal stenosis. It compresses the involved nerves (or the spinal cord) and leads to radiating pain.
Most often, this condition results in Sciatica, which is a pain that travels from the lower back to either buttock below. This usually happens due to the impingement of the sciatica nerve.
Tumour: A tumour is an abnormal lump of cells. It happens due to uncontrolled growth or proliferation of cells whose genetic materials have been mutated.
A tumour can occur anywhere including the lower back or the lumbar spine region. All tumours aren’t cancer. Some are just a lump of tissue that doesn’t grow back once removed surgically.
Diagnosis
Diseased conditions in the lower back can be diagnosed with the following.
Physical or Medical Examination: Medical history is analysed. The patient is asked about past traumatic events. The doctor might also inspect, or examine by hand, the lower back to confirm or rule out the possibilities of certain conditions, i.e., inflammation, vertebral displacements, fractures, etc.
X-ray: This test is recommended to produce images of the bones in the lower back or the lumbar spine. An X-ray helps only diagnose conditions related to bones.
MRI: An X-ray is a crucial diagnostic tool for spinal conditions but such a test cannot help discover conditions related to soft tissues. So, for examining soft tissue conditions or injuries, an MRI is utilised.
CT Scan: The MRI technology for imaging internal organs cannot be used in all patients. An MRI test isn’t suitable for patients with metal implants already within the body. For such patients, a CT scan is advised.
A CT scan can image bones as well as other soft-tissue parts.
Blood Tests and Biopsy: If the preceding imaging tests show a tumour, certain blood tests and a biopsy are used for further analysis. The presence of certain cancer-related substances in the blood helps doctors predict a variety of facts about a tumour within the body.
The biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of the affected or diseased tissue is collected/extracted from the body for a close inspection in the laboratory. A sample of the tissue in question can be extracted either in a minimally invasive way via a needle or with open surgery using incisions.
To schedule an appointment with a specialist for your lower back pain, visit the following link: orthopedic doctors in Delhi.
Treatment
Lower back pain can be treated with any or all of the following treatment options.
Physiotherapy: It is a non-pharmacological approach to offering healthcare. This therapy usually comprises exercises and special hand manoeuvres. The therapy helps relieve pain, restore mobility, strengthen the operated part and as a result, prevent potential injuries in the future.
Medications: Back pain can also be managed with the help of medicines. Make sure that you only take painkillers to relieve back pain after the prescription by a spine specialist.
Surgery: When physiotherapy and medications cannot relieve pain permanently, surgery is recommended. There are various types of spinal surgeries. To learn about surgical interventions related to the spine, access the following resource: https://bit.ly/3MeHYYq.
To consult the best spine surgeon, click on the following link: spine surgeon in Delhi NCR.
Conclusion
Lower back pain could be because of overuse or excessive strain. Just give yourself enough rest with adequate sleep. It should resolve the condition within a few days. If the pain persists, it might be something serious. It might need to be examined by a spinal specialist or an orthopedic doctor. For persistent lower back pain, consult a doctor today.
