According to chiropractor Dr. Jeff Echols, about 80% of the population at some point will experience back pain so severe that they will be unable to work or complete daily tasks. With these odds, it is a good idea to understand some common causes of low back pain.
Dr. Echols mentions that one common cause of low back pain is referred pain from internal organs. In men, especially middle aged or older men, the prostate is a frequent culprit for causing low back pain.
If a man exhibits low back pain and prostate symptoms it is a wise idea to see a medical doctor to examine his prostate. Prostate related symptoms often include difficulty urinating, inability to completely empty the bladder, frequent urination, or urgency to urinate.
Visceral Pain
In women the uterus and ovaries often cause referred low back pain. Many women complain of low back cramping associated with their monthly cycles so it is widely recognized that the female reproductive organs can cause pain in the lower back. Chiropractors have techniques to discern if the pain is related to organs or is caused by other issues. Some questions asked during the assessment may seem to make no sense but they often give the practitioner insight as to what is going on.
Facet Issues
Facet issues are a structural issue that can cause a low backache that is very uncomfortable. Facets are where two bones in the spine meet. If the lower back is arched too far forward this adds a lot of strain to the facets which can manifest as low back pain. A simple test Dr. Echols recommend to help determine if low back pain is caused by Facet Syndrome is to bend over. By bending over, the facets are pulled apart and the stress on the bones relieved. If bending over and lengthening the spine relieve pain, it is a good indication that Facet Syndrome may be at least a part of the problem. This type of back pain is especially common in pregnancy as the growing baby pulls a mother’s low back forward causing arching and stress on the bones.
Nerve Pain
Another common cause of low back pain is related to nerve irritation, and inflammation. This can be caused by a vertebra in the spine subluxing or shifting out of place putting pressure on the nerve which often causes pain that radiates from the low back to the top of the buttocks or even down the legs (it can affect one leg or both). If a disk, the piece of cartilage between the vertebrae is weak it can bulge out of place and press on a nerve, again causing pain that often radiates downwards. To determine if a patient has a bulging disk, chiropractors will often use MRI or X-ray imaging to get a good picture of exactly what is happening inside the back.
Sciatica is the inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve. This type of pain is very common but is often hard to offer a long term back pain remedy for because at times the inflammation can be so severe. Many pregnant women complain of sciatic nerve pain as a pregnancy advances.
Sacro-illiac Joint Pain
“A pain in the butt”, is often how this type of issue presents itself. This is where the sacrum meets part the ilium- part of the pelvis. This joint can get stuck or slide out of place. When this happens the bone faces no longer glide smoothly over each other and can cause pain. There are specific adjustment techniques are used to help put this joint back in place.
There are of course several other causes of low back pain that are not discussed above but can be determined by a skilled chiropractor. If back pain presents itself, it is best to have early intervention so treatment can begin before the problem becomes too severe.
About the Author: Melissa Cameron is a wife, mother of two and resident of Texas. In her spare time she enjoys researching various topics and freelance writing. She is working with an Appleton Chiropractor to write a series of articles relating to back pain and the importance of an ergonomic workspace.