As our Pain Doctors regularly explain: “Lower back pain is very common. It usually develops due to overuse or a minor injury, but sometimes there may be no obvious cause. Lower back pain can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition” [1]
Lower back pain may appear gradually or out of the blue, and can range from a dull ache to intense, stabbing, burning, aching, or sharp pain. In some individuals, the pain can be continual, whilst in others, it can come and go throughout the day. Moreover, chronic (long-term low back pain) is extremely prevalent [2]
Furthermore, in addition to all the aforementioned points, lower back pain is a common issue that can be due to many reasons from muscle strain to a herniated disc. If your lower back pain is severe, or continual, or could be due to nerve compression, then the smart course of action is to book an online or in-person appointment with one of our Pain Consultants as soon as possible. Then, as soon as you have received an accurate diagnosis, one of our world-class Pain Doctors will devise a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan, which you can get started on right away. This may include multiple conventional and cutting-edge treatments, therapies, and injectables (such as pain blockers and Botox), which work synergistically to help you get back to optimum living.
Did You Know?
According to 2020 statistics published by the World Health Organisation (WHO): “low back pain (LBP) affected 619 million people globally and it is estimated that the number of cases will increase to 843 million cases by 2050” [2]. Moreover, the WHO has stated that:
- Lower back pain is the sole leading cause of global disability, and that the greatest number of sufferers could benefit from rehabilitation
- LBP can impact people of all ages, and the majority of people experience this condition at least once during their lifetime
- Prevalence of lower back pain raises inline with with age (up to 80 years), whilst the highest number of cases occur between 50 and 55 years of age
- Lower back pain is more prevalent in females
- [As our Pain Doctors are aware], non-specific lower back pain makes up the most common presentation of this condition (around 90% of cases) [3]
So What Causes Low Back Pain?
As our Pain Specialists regularly point out, this can arise from:
- A herniated disc
- Strain or sprain from: a single awkward movement, repeated movements, or overuse
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
- A tumour (in rare instances)
- An infection (in rare instances) [2]
What Factors Make LBP More Likely?
These vulnerabilities may be discussed with your Pain Consultant, and include:
- Misalignment of the vertebrae (spinal bones). This can be a result of genetics or injury
- Insufficient exercise (weak back and abdomen muscles often elevate the risk of lower back strain)
- Sub-optimal posture
- Being overweight
- Age, particularly the over 30s
- Engaging in regular repetitive movements (such as pulling, pushing, lifting or twisting), all of which can that generate pressure on the low back
- Smoking
- Sitting in a badly designed chair for an extended period, or driving for a long time without a break
- Smoking, which may elevate the risk of health problems that promote lower back pain (osteoporosis and herniated discs are good examples)
- Stress
- Insomnia [2]
References
[1]. Nall, R. (2023). “What Can Cause Lower Back Pain?” Medical News Today.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325381
[2]. University of Pittsburgh Medical. “Low Back Pain.”
https://www.upmc.com/services/orthopaedics/conditions/lower-back-pain
[3]. World Health Organisation (2023). “Low Back Pain.”
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/low-back-pain
