Lower Back Pain Causes: 7 Reasons for Sudden & Chronic Pain

Understanding Lower Back Pain

Back pain is a common reason patients visit us at South Bay Wellness Center for treatment. Many people have missed work and important events due to sudden and severe back pain.

​Many patients who seek back pain treatment in Inglewood have a rough idea of the general experience of chronic back pain. Some of the symptoms they experience are:

1. Pain radiating down the leg
2. A sharp, burning sensation in the lower back region
3. Pain that gets worse when you stand or bend

While traditional medicine offers several treatment options for lower back pain, many people need alternative treatments for chronic pain. Chiropractic care entails various techniques to realign the spine, creating a balance that can address many musculoskeletal problems. Besides, when the idea of surgery is tabled, many patients begin to explore other non-invasive treatments to alleviate their pain and regain mobility.

When Would You Need Medical Care for Lower Back Pain?

It is not always that lower back pain is a severe condition meriting treatment. Sometimes you can strain your back and experience discomfort for just a brief moment. However, consider visiting a chiropractor in Inglewood when you have the following experience:

1. Pain that lasts for several weeks
2. Severe pain and discomfort that does not improve even after resting
3. Pain that spreads down to your legs and below the knees, on one or both feet.
4. Numbness, weakness, or a tingling sensation in your feet
5. Sudden and unexplained weight loss
6. Pain accompanied by bowel or bladder complications that are new to you
7. High fever along with the pain

7 Reasons for Sudden & Chronic Lower Back Pain

Various factors can merit your visit to a chiropractor near you for chronic lower back pain. Some of the reasons you may experience sudden and severe lower back pain are:

1. Straining or tearing of the muscles or ligaments in the lower back – can occur from lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, or prolonged sitting or standing.
2. Herniated disc – occurs when the soft part of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tough exterior. This pushback can cause sudden lower back pain, often accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs.
3. Spinal stenosis – occurs when the spine narrows abnormally, putting pressure on the nerves and causing lower back pain, leg pain, and weakness.
4. Osteoarthritis – is commonly called arthritis in the spine. It is a degenerative joint disease that can sometimes tamper with the lower back to cause chronic pain and stiffness. It occurs if the arthritis narrows the spinal cord, leading to spinal stenosis.
5. Osteoporosis – is another bone-related condition where bones become weak and brittle, making them more vulnerable to fractures. The brittleness may also affect the lower back.
6. Sports that stress the bones in the lower back, such as gymnastics and football, can trigger Spondylolisthesis, a condition in which a vertebra in the spine slips out of place or the fusing of some of the bones in the spine.
7. Fibromyalgia – is a disorder characterized by widespread, chronic musculoskeletal pain. The pain can spread far and wide throughout the body, including the lower back.

Who Gets Lower Back Pain?

Even though older adults are more likely to suffer from lower back pain, they are not the only ones. A few factors heighten your risk for lower back pain, including the following:

1. Age – lower back pain is commoner from ages 30 to 40.
2. Immobility or lack of exercise – leads to weak and unused back and abdominal muscles.
3. Excess body weight – it puts extra stress on your back.
4. Smoking – the coughing after or when smoking often leads to herniated disks, which often triggers lower back pain. Besides, smoking may lower blood flow to the spine, heightening the risk of osteoporosis.
5. Underlying diseases like arthritis.
6. Using your back to lift things instead of your legs.