Conditions That Cause Lower Back Pain

The majority of people (80 percent) will experience lower back pain in their lifetime, which leads to people spending at minimum $50 billion per year related to back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association. The odds that you will experience at least one of the lower back conditions at some point in your lifetime are relatively likely, and the pain can be a nagging nuisance or in some cases, debilitating. It is important to educate yourself on the different types of lower back pain conditions. Lower back pain is a general term that covers a lot of different conditions and types of pain. The various types of pain are grouped into three distinct categories including: Axial pain. Axial pain is related to a particular muscle or muscle group. The pain can be transient or consistent, sharp or dull. Muscle strain is the most common cause of axial pain in the lower back. Radicular pain. Radicular pain is most often a severe type of pain that travels along the path of a nerve. For example, you may feel a shooting pain that moves along your spine and down through your arm. A feeling of numbness or tingling may accompany this type of pain. Referred pain. Referred pain tends to be a dull, migratory ache. The pain can move from your lower back to your hip and buttock. This type of pain earns its name because the pain is felt in a place other than the source. Each of these types of pain can have different causes. Here are 11 causes of pain the lower back to know. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the spinal discs – the tissue that acts as cushions that separate the vertebrae. There are 23 vertebral discs in your spine, according to Spine-Health, but osteoarthritis tends to affect the discs in the lower back. This condition can have an impact on a single disc or multiple discs. Osteoarthritis tends to develop in individuals who are 40 years or older. This condition can be a cause of lower back pain in as much as 20 percent of 40-years-olds, while it could be the cause of back pain for up to 75 percent of people 60 years and older, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis can decrease your spine’s stability and lead to the growth of bone spurs. As you age, you might develop osteoarthritis but feel no symptoms. When osteoarthritis does cause pain, it is because the increasingly unstable spine is putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. Exercise is the first treatment any physician will recommend for osteoarthritis. You can also use anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to help control discomfort caused by inflammation and if pain persists, surgery may be an option. Surgical treatments include spinal fusion, which halts movement at the painful joint and laminectomy, which involves the removal of a piece of bone that is causing pressure on spinal nerves. Fracture Osteoporosis weakens our bones, which can make

Back pain is the leading cause of work-related disability.

Minimizing Back Pain in the Office Environment

The leading cause of disability in the workplace is back pain. But you don’t need to have a job that involves heavy lifting to be affected. In fact, most back pain at work is caused by desk jobs. Living with pain is not uncommon. More than 80 percent of people in U.S. will suffer from some sort of back pain sometime in their lives. Managing your chronic back pain is the most important thing. As most back pain is not severe, it usually takes around six weeks for the pain to subside completely. However, in the meantime, you need to know how to minimize the effects of back pain while at work. A limited number of sick days makes it difficult to take off every time you have a flare-up. And prescription pain medications are usually a no-go, as they can leave you groggy and unable to perform tasks to the best of your ability. Here NJ Spine and Ortho will discuss some ways you can decrease your back pain while at the office. Also, if you suffer from chronic back pain, be honest with your supervisors and your co-workers. You should never be ashamed of a medical condition. 7 Tips to Decreasing Back Pain at Work If your back pain lasts more than three months, it’s considered a chronic condition. Chronic pain has been shown to be detrimental to everyday life and can affect your attention span, alter your mood and impact the way you deal with others. In a work environment, these adverse side effects will negatively impair your job if not addressed. The most common causes of back pain in an office environment are: Slouching and leaning forward in your chair Holding a telephone between your ear and shoulder Little to no movement throughout the day If you keep these things in mind, it will help you make some positive changes in the way you work. Here are some straightforward things to try that will minimize your back pain and improve your posture: Keep Your Head up and Level: Align your head and neck above your shoulders to avoid leaning forward when you work. Watch How You Sit: Don’t cross your legs, and keep your feet flat on the floor with your knees at 90-degree angles. The Right Chair Counts: Make sure to choose a chair with good lumbar support, meaning your lower back can rest against something. If you can’t find a chair like that, then place a small pillow or rolled up towel behind the small of your back. Adjust Your Office Equipment: Your monitor should be about an arm’s length away and slightly below eye level, which will encourage you to lean back. Also, keep your mouse directly next to your keyboard, so you don’t have to overreach. If you find yourself squinting to see your computer screen, that will cause you naturally to lean forward. Make sure the monitor is bright enough. Make Your Phone Time Count: While you’re on the phone, switch between your right and left

What Causes Back Pain?

Back pain is a serious issue that many Americans deal with every year. According to the American Chiropractic Association, (ACA), approximately 80% of the population will deal with back problems at some point and is a common reason to miss work and go to the doctor. There are a lot of reasons for back pain and its causes. Some can be fixed through simple changes like exercise and changing posture. However, some might require more intense solutions like surgery. When you experience back pain, it’s important to know the reasons why it might be happening. Understanding what causes back pain and your options to fix it will help you move on to get rid of back pain. What Is the Cause of Back Pain? Who gets back pain? There isn’t a specific demographic for back pain. Essentially, anyone can experience it. Back pain can be triggered through many different ways. It can come from injuries to your spine, straining muscles and tearing muscles that cause spasms. Lifting Too Much. Lifting heavy objects puts a lot of strain on your back, especially when lifted incorrectly. Fall Related Injury. These injuries are often sudden and are difficult to control because they’re done by accident. Any jerky or quick movements done to lessen the fall, or falling and hitting your back could cause back pain. Posture. If you frequently slouch, don’t have a supportive chair for work or generally have poor posture, this can result in back pain over time. Other Injuries. Sports injuries can have long-lasting pain, especially if the sport involves player contact and heavy hits. Shoes. High heels can also negatively affect your back. Technology. With society’s focus on computers and phones, it is very easy to develop poor posture for prolonged periods of time. When working, sit up straight and have a chair that provides support for your back. Slouching while typing on a computer is a bad habit to get stuck in. Take time to get up and walk around so you’re not stuck in a position for consecutive hours. When using your phone, use your arms to hold it up so you’re not bending your neck and looking down for a long time. Spinal Problems Back pain can stem from issues with the spine. These can be brought on by age or injury, and can require surgery and time to fix. Degenerative Disc Disease. Discs between your vertebrae absorb shock. Over time, these can flatten and causes pain when the nerve is upset. This problem usually affects older people, but not all older people experience it. The pain can worsen when sitting or twisting. If the pain is disabling or you start to feel numbness or tingling in your legs, you can have surgery to replace the disc. Sciatica. This pain is in the lower back and the legs, which comes from a herniated disc hurting the sciatic nerve. People with sciatica have trouble standing. The sooner you recognize you have sciatic nerve pain, then your doctor

Tips for Sleeping With Lower Back Pain

Living with pain can detract from all areas of your life — spending time with your family, enjoying activities and especially sleeping. Of all chronic pain, the most common type people experience is lower back pain. In fact, up to 80 percent of the U.S. population will experience lower back pain at some point during their lives. If you’re able to exercise and get a full night’s rest, most back pain will improve in a matter of weeks. But unfortunately, pain can make sleeping difficult or next to impossible. It then becomes a horrible catch-22. You need rest to recover from back pain, but your back pain makes it hard to sleep. Don’t let lower back pain rob you of the sleep you so desperately need. There are a few things you can do to improve your sleep. Here are some tips and tricks from NJ Spine and Ortho for sleeping with back pain that could help you lull off to dreamland, leaving your pain behind. What Causes Lower Back Pain? There are a number of reasons for lower back pain. The majority of reasons are not serious, often caused by our lifestyle habits. Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include: Pulled or torn muscles or ligaments Poor back posture Stress Improper sleeping position Sports or activity injury Back sprain Repetitive movements over time Damage to the intervertebral discs Nerve compression Improper spinal joint movement Aging Pregnancy Medical conditions, like scoliosis Most lower back pain will resolve in about six weeks without you having to seek medical help. However, 10 to 12 percent of people seek medical attention for their lower back pain if it doesn’t resolve naturally. 9 Tips to Sleep With Back Pain Sleep is the best remedy for back pain. A good night’s rest will make it easier for your body to recover naturally. If you’re finding it difficult to sleep because of the pain in your lower back, there are a few things you can try, from changing your sleeping position to optimizing your relaxation before bedtime. No matter what you do, remember that alignment is key. When you sleep, you should focus on the alignment of your spine. You can do this by making sure your ears, shoulders and hips are lined up. If there are gaps between your body and the bed, use pillows to take away undue pressure. When you turn, keep your core tight. Twisting and turning can wrench your back. Try These Sleeping Positions On your side with a pillow between your knees: Either lying on your left or right side, allow that entire side of your body to make contact with the mattress along with your shoulder. Place a pillow between your knees. This helps keep your hips, pelvis and spine in alignment. And if there’s a large gap between your waist and the mattress, place a small pillow there as well. Be sure to switch sides occasionally to prevent muscle imbalance. In the fetal position:

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Conditions That Cause Lower Back Pain

Minimizing Back Pain in the Office Environment

What Causes Back Pain?

Tips for Sleeping With Lower Back Pain

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