Uncovering the Root Causes of Chronic Lower Back Pain
Chronic lower back pain is a common issue that affects many people, often leading to decreased quality of life and decreased physical movement. It’s important to understand the causes of chronic lower back pain in order to effectively address it.
In this blog post, we will explore the causes of chronic lower back pain, provide insights on how to address them, and discuss restorative treatments that can help you get back on your feet.
What Is Chronic Lower Back Pain And Why Is It Important To Understand The Causes?
Back pain is a common complaint, but when it persists over time, it is considered chronic. While acute back pain is defined as pain that lasts a few days to a few weeks and tends to self-resolve, chronic back pain often lasts longer than 12 weeks and causes significant limitations to physical activity, sometimes lasting several months or even years.
Chronic lower back pain causes can vary depending on the individual’s condition and physical activity level. Understanding the causes of chronic lower back pain is an essential first step in effectively addressing and managing the condition.
Common Causes Of Chronic Lower Back Pain
Chronic back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
1. Poor Posture
Poor posture occurs when you sit and stand in an unnatural position for an extended period of time, placing undue stress on your joints, muscles, and ligaments. From slouching to carrying heavy bags for long periods, poor posture causes strain and fatigue to your spine, leading to chronic lower back pain.
2. Inactivity
A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences showed a strong correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and chronic lower back pain in both adults and children. Inactivity can cause the muscles of your back to become weak, making them more vulnerable to injury.
3. Injury or Trauma
Injury and trauma can cause chronic lower back pain due to the damage that is inflicted on your bones, joints, and muscles. Common causes of injury or trauma leading to chronic lower back pain include sprains and strains, disc problems, and fractures. If you experience acute back pain after an injury or trauma, seek medical attention immediately.
4. Medical Conditions
In addition to traumatic events, there are many medical causes of chronic lower back pain. These can include arthritis, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. A doctor can rule out the various chronic lower back pain causes to then formulate the right treatment plan to address the condition.
5. Stress and Emotional Tension
Stress and emotional tension can have a direct impact on chronic lower back pain. According to the Internation Association for the Study of Pain, your psychological condition can result in increased disability, hinder the healing process and further prolong and accentuate chronic back pain. Regulating your emotional state and reducing stress can help with managing chronic lower back pain.
How To Address The Causes Of Chronic Lower Back Pain
Once the causes of chronic lower back pain are identified, it is important to address them appropriately in order to manage the condition. Some methods include:
1. Improving Posture
Improving your posture helps to reduce any strain on your back muscles and ligaments while increasing mobility and reducing pain. Exercises that focus on core strength and flexibility can also be beneficial in managing chronic lower back pain. You can also practice sitting and standing in the proper alignment and use ergonomic devices like lumbar support.
2. Staying Active
Though chronic lower back pain causes physical limitations and may make it difficult to exercise, even mild activity can help with managing the condition. Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, and yoga can help to reduce pain while strengthening the muscles of your back. In fact, in the previously mentioned resource done by the International Association for the Study of Pain, avoidance behavior, such as minimizing movement due to pain can be counterintuitive and further exasperate the chronic lower back pain causes.
Instead, we recommend physical therapy for lower back pain, which can focus on specific the causes of your pain.
3. Seeking Medical Attention
Your first line of defense against chronic lower back pain causes is to seek medical help. A doctor will be able to accurately diagnose what is causing the problem and provide the right treatment plan. Treatment plans can include conservative physical therapy, pharmacologic management, and other measures to reduce the pain.
Doctors are also well-versed in promising and innovative treatment options such as ReActiv8® – The first FDA-approved restorative neurostimulation therapy to treat mechanical chronic low back pain.
4. Managing Stress
Managing stress involves learning and implementing relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, or muscle relaxation. These activities can help to reduce the emotional tension and stress that can exacerbate chronic back pain causes.
Restorative Treatment For Your Lower Back Pain
Chronic lower back pain causes can range from poor posture to medical conditions, and managing the condition starts with properly discovering the causes.
Addressing the issue can involve improving posture, staying active, and seeking medical help. Additionally, managing stress and emotional tension through relaxation techniques can also be beneficial in managing the causes of chronic lower back pain.
For those with chronic low back pain, innovative treatments such as ReActiv8® may be used to provide restorative therapy while reducing pain. ReActiv8® is the first FDA-approved neurostimulation therapy to treat chronic mechanical low back pain as it addresses the cause, resulting in less pain and improved function and quality of life.
