Did you know that around 16 million adults in the United States of America suffer from back pain in some form or another? There are a number of lower back pain causes that you should be aware of if you want to get rid of that pesky back pain. Learning the truth behind why do I have lower back pain will help you live a pain-free and active lifestyle.
There are many causes of lower back pain and they happen due to everything from a sedentary lifestyle to having a herniated disc. Treating lower back pain in women might seem complex but the first thing you’ll need to know is what is causing your lower back pain.
The good news is that you’ve come to the perfect place to learn more about treating lower back pain in women and the causes of that pain. Keep reading to learn more today!
1. Sedentary Lifestyle
The biggest reason that women experience pain in their lower backs is because of a sedentary lifestyle. Odds are that you’re spending the majority of your time at work and sitting at a desk. Sitting at a desk and working on a computer for eight or more hours each day is a sure contributor to lower back pain in women.
You’re not activating your muscles as much when you’re spending extended periods sitting at a desk or lounging on a couch. The more time that you spend sitting in your office chair, the more likely you are to start slouching. Your core muscles will also start to get weaker with more time spent sitting and working like this.
The poor posture and lack of core strength caused by sitting all day will start to compress your spine over a long time period. You’ll find that our hamstrings and glutes are noticeably tight thanks to your sedentary lifestyle.
2. Poor Posture
Poor posture ties into living a sedentary lifestyle because they’re quite similar and they both contribute to lower back pain. Having poor posture could result in getting lower back pain if you don’t already have it. If you’re already experiencing pain in your lower back then poor posture will only make it worse.
Many people think of slouching while sitting at a desk as their only issue with poor posture. There are other forms of poor posture that you need to avoid, such as leaning on one leg or the other while standing for extended periods of time. You also want to avoid putting an arch in your spine when you’re walking.
You won’t experience immediate issues from these examples of poor posture, but they’ll start to have negative side effects if you don’t change them sooner than later. You’ll put extra strain on the muscles and ligaments in your body.
3. Muscle and Ligament Strains
Muscle and ligament strains are also common causes of pain in your lower back. If you’ve tried moving heavy objects or spent too much time in the gym then you might end up having muscle strain or ligament strain in your lower back. Unfortunately, it isn’t abnormal to strain something in your back from time to time.
The most common reason that lower back pain happens when muscle and ligament strains are involved is using the poor form to lift heavy objects. The more out of shape you are, the higher your odds are of straining something. Avoid trying to move heavy objects if you’ve been living a sedentary lifestyle to avoid these lower back pain causes.
4. Muscle Fatigue
The other examples in this article have all related to issues related to living a sedentary lifestyle and having poor posture. After being physically inactive it makes sense that you’d have an easier time experiencing lower back issues. Muscle fatigue is different from muscle strains and poor posture.
You’ll experience lower back pain from muscle fatigue when you participate in sports and other athletic events. You’ll also run into this issue if you work in a job that requires a lot of physical activity and labor. If you work in a warehouse or on a construction site then you’re much more likely to experience issues with muscle fatigue than someone that works in an office.
If you overuse your back muscles from continuing to lift heavy loads then it is a matter of time before your back starts to get aggravated. You’ll find that your muscles won’t perform in an efficient manner that you’re used to.
The real issue with muscle fatigue is the bad habits that you develop when you start using your back muscles in a way to avoid feeling pain and aggravation. Your mechanics will get worse and your odds of injuring your lower back will go up significantly. You’ll need to seek out back pain treatment for your muscle fatigue if you’re not careful.
5. Herniated Disc
Did you know that your spine has a number of things that look similar to jelly doughnuts that are meant to provide cushioning for your back? These things are called vertebrae and they take a lot of the wear and tear that you put on your body over the course of many years.
As you start to get older you’ll find that your vertebrae are stiff and painful. Vertebrae can also become dehydrated as you get up there in age. They’ll start to balloon out and irritate the nerves in your back which will make it difficult for you to live the life that you want for yourself.
If you suffer a traumatic accident then you could end up bursting your vertebrae since too much pressure ends up getting put on the disc. This pressure could result in a bulged disc or ruptured vertebrae. You’ll feel shooting pain going down into your legs if this happens to you.
The words “bulging disc” are similar to “root canal” when it comes to the reaction and the anticipation of pain. The good news is that you don’t need surgery if you’re suffering from a bulging disc in your back. Don’t associate surgery with a bulging disc as that only happens to a small number of people.
6. Degenerative Spine Conditions
Degenerative spine conditions are another of the leading causes of lower back pain in women. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are both big contributors to lower back pain in women for different reasons.
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to become increasingly brittle and weak. If your spine becomes too fragile as a result of osteoporosis then it could fracture or break much easier than normal.
Osteoarthritis is similar to osteoporosis but instead of making the bones brittle, it affects the cartilage in your body. Your cartilage will start to break down and your body will have a more difficult time protecting and cushioning itself.
7. Cancer
Most people fail to associate pain in the lower back with cancer, but it is something that you need to consider and look into. The main reason that cancer causes lower back pain is the result of a tumor located in your lumbar area. If you or your family members have a history of experiencing organ cancer then you’re at a higher risk for tumors in your back.
The odds are that your back pain is caused by a cancerous tumor are quite low but it is still something that you should get checked out to prevent the odds of it spreading. Ignoring it will prevent you from treating lower back pain in women. You’ll also get peace of mind that your back pain isn’t the result of having a cancerous tumor in your lumbar area.
8. Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a spine disorder that three percent of people in the United States of America suffer from. This spine disorder causes an abnormal curve in your spine that will cause a number of complications when it comes to back pain in your life.
Science has not determined the cause of scoliosis as of the present, but it is one of the big causes of back pain in women and men alike. There are certain signs to look out for if you’re worried that you have scoliosis.
Most people that have scoliosis have uneven shoulders and a shoulder blade that is a bit more prominent than the other. You’ll also have an uneven waist if you suffer from scoliosis.
Another big sign that you have scoliosis is if you have one hip that is higher than the other. If you have that then it is likely that you’re experiencing lower back pain and poor posture issues.
Now You Know the Causes of Lower Back Pain in Women
Knowing the main causes of lower back pain in women is important if you want to take measures to keep your back healthy and happy. Lower back pain in women is crippling if you don’t seek lower back pain treatment. You should also make sure that you don’t have scoliosis and that you don’t have a cancerous tumor in your lumbar area.
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