Low back pain is one of the common complaints that can even cause loss of workforce. It is more common in older ages. Back pain can have many causes. The cause of low back pain may not be understood by listening or examination. The characteristics of the pain, how it starts, its course and the area it affects are very important.
The most common causes of low back pain are:
- Back strain
- Acute low back strain (severe trauma, fall, impact or heavy lifting)
- Chronic low back strains (increasing pain from time to time, stiffness and limitation of movement)
- Intervertebral disc hernias (lumbar hernia is the most common cause of low back pain. The pain is severe during attacks. It becomes so severe that it makes you immobile. It can be reflected towards the legs. In advanced cases, numbness may also be seen in the legs and feet)
- Osteoarthritis (There are degenerations in the bone structures in the waist. It is more common in the elderly)
- Lumbosacral facet syndrome (Pain occurs with damage to the capsule of the joint under the lumbar 5th vertebra.)
- Spinal stenosis and related lumbar claudication (pain occurs in the affected area due to stenosis at the exit points of the nerves coming out of the vertebral spaces)
- Cauda equina syndrome (Inability to function as a result of compression of the nerves in the cauda equina region. It is an emergency. Loss of sensation and function occurs in all areas below the pinched nerves. It requires urgent surgical intervention)
- Other reasons:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Connective tissue diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Infections
- Psychological reasons
- Fibrositis (There is pain that increases with tension, fatigue, immobility and chills. It decreases with heat and activity)
Pain from injury or strain is sudden onset pain. Low back pain may also occur due to occupational conditions.
Low back pain due to rheumatic diseases usually occurs due to joint involvement and inflammation of the disease.
If low back pain that does not go away despite the use of painkillers gets worse at night, if it is continuous, it may be due to metastatic carcinoma, multiple myeloma, lymphoma or other malignancies. Fatigue or weight loss may also accompany this condition.
Conditions such as posture disorder, scoliosis or kyphosis, obesity suggest that the cause of low back pain may be mechanical.
Inability to expand and strain the chest is more common in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Depending on the causes of low back pain, the form of pain and aching points may change. It requires detailed examination and treatment.