Some studies report that as many as four out of five adults may experience server low back pain at some point in their lives. Lower back pain may be excruciating at times, but the severity of the pain is not necessarily an indicator of the extent of the actual physical damage. A simple strain can be extremely painful, while a herniated disk between vertebrate may cause little or no pain at all. There are many types of back pain tests that can be administered to more accurately determine the cause of your pain.
Common causes of lower back pain include:
- Irritated nerve roots connected to the hips, legs or even arms
- Injury to the bones, joints or ligaments in the lower back
- Smaller nerves running along and inside the spine becoming irritated or damaged
- Damage to the intervertebral disks, which separate the vertebrate
- Strain to the lower back muscles, or erector spinae
While many physical injuries can be attributed to specific incidents, lower back pain may be slow-building, yet progressive. This can make it difficult to notice complicated lower back problems before they require treatment. Although most lower back pain does not require emergency medical attention, a few symptoms may be signs of severe medical conditions.
According to SpineHealth.com, if you experience the following symptoms with lower back pain, you should seek expert or emergency medical attention as soon as possible:
- Sudden bowel or bladder movements
- A progressive feeling of weakness in the legs
- Severe or constant pain in the lower back or abdominal region
You should also consult a back pain expert immediately if you have lower back pain combined with current or pre-existing cancer, significant recent weight loss, or severe trauma.
If you wish to at least temporarily seek back pain relief at home, there are many back pain product vendors, which are available both online, and at locations throughout the world.
For severe or chronic back pain, you should consider seeking lower back pain treatment, which is available in many forms. Lower back exercise can both help with back pain relief, and prevent it from recurring later.