24 Aug Top Causes of Low Back Pain
As people age, their bodies begin to break down from normal wear and tear throughout their lives. The spine is especially prone to this normal aging process. Throughout our entire lives, our backs hold up a significant portion of our weight. As a result, it is no surprise that as people age, it is common to notice pain in the back. This is particularly true of the lower back. Lower back pain is one of the main causes of people missing work. In addition, it can cause people to lead a significantly diminished quality of life. Many different things can lead to lower back pain. Below are some of the most common causes.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Between each vertebra exists jellylike discs that are made up primarily of water and help cushion the spine. As people age, these discs become dried out and do not perform their primary function as well. Over time, these discs cannot resist force as well as they once did and can cause pain as they weaken and develop tears. Degenerative disc disease is a major cause of lower back pain. Stem cell therapy has been shown to help patients suffering from degenerative disc disease.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is another major cause of lower back pain. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows and can lead to nerve root compression. Compressing of nerves in the spine can cause an immense amount of pain for the patient. Spinal stenosis usually occurs later in life and after other signs of lower back pain are visible.
Deformity
Deformity of the spine can be a major factor in the development of lower back pain. Conditions such as scoliosis, which causes the spine to take on a curved position, can lead to lower back pain. When suffering from these conditions, the patient often overcompensates due to the irregular positioning of the spine. Many of these deformities can be helped with physical therapy.
Lumbar Herniated Disc
In the middle of each spinal disc exists a jelly-like layer of material that helps to absorb shock and cushion the back. If the disc becomes weak, this jelly-like layer can break through the disc causing a significant amount of pain. When it breaks out, it can press on a nerve root, or just cause overall discomfort. Inflammation, nerve compression, or simply agitation of the nerves in the disc can lead to lower back pain in these situations.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is another major cause of lower back pain. Osteoarthritis occurs due to normal wear and tear of the facet joints located in the spine. Over time, this condition can lead to pain, inflammation, instability, and spinal stenosis. Spinal osteoarthritis is a progressive disease which means that even with many treatments, the condition will continue to worsen over time. Fortunately, stem cell therapy has been shown to be effective in helping those suffering from the condition. In some cases, stem cells have been able to reverse damage from osteoarthritis and prevent damage from worsening.
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