Causes of lower back pain

Lower back pain is one of the most common conditions we see here. However not all lower back pain is caused from the same problem. Through our orthopaedic and neurological testing, as well as a thorough history, we are able to diagnose your lower back pain, and most importantly how we can help it.

Lower back pain is also one of the most common ailments an adult will suffer with, with it being the leading cause of missing work and disability. Experts also believe that up to 80% of us will experience lower back pain at some point in our lifetime.

But what are the causes of it?

Lower back pain has a number of different causes, which stems from things like age, work, congenital issues and posture. All the issues listed here below are conditions we are usually able to help with as chiropractors.

Sacroiliac (pelvis joint) pain

This pain is usually described as buttock or ‘low’ low back pain. The pain is caused by inflammation of the sacroiliac joint irritating the sacroiliac nerves. Pain can also radiate either up into the lower back or down into the buttocks and legs.

Herniated disc (slipped disc)

The discs are the fluid filled areas between the vertebra of the spine that allows for shock absorption. A disc herniation (slipped disc) is where the fluid in the middle of the disc is pushed out and can cause extreme irritation of the adjacent nerve. This is why a slipped disc can be so painful and can cause leg pain and muscle spasm. Chiropractic can aid in disc healing and reducing pain, but we may refer to the GP for pain management and MRI referral to assist this.

Mechanical lumbar facet joint pain

Usually described as pain in the lower curve of the spine, this is caused by restriction in the lumbar (low back) facet joints causing inflammation which can irritate the nerve and cause pain.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve is the large nerve that travels from the pelvis all the way down into the foot. Sciatica is pain radiating down the back of the leg via the nerve, and can even go as far down as into the foot. It is usually caused by irritation of the nerve either by a joint, disc or muscle, and is associated with lower back pain.

Spinal stenosis

This is where wear and tear narrows the spinal canal and increases pressure on the nerves and the discs. It often develops from imbalances over time or previous trauma or injury. Chiropractic can help relieve the symptoms from spinal stenosis, but may choose to co-manage with other healthcare professionals in these cases and will often request an MRI or an x ray.

Degenerative disc disease

This is where the discs (the fluid filled areas) between the vertebra wear down, from age and repetitive stresses and/or injury or trauma to the spine. In response the body lays down extra bone to scaffold the joints in the spine in order to stabilise it, but this can cause decreased movement and also increase the risk of nerve irritation. Like the above, these cases are managed very closely, and referral to a GP is usually done for an MRI or x ray, as well as pain medication.  

Here at WWC, we don’t just recommend chiropractic care alone, we often recommend it alongside sports massages, better nutrition, lifestyle advice and exercises. These combined together are shown to have even more positive results, getting you back to the best version of you!