what would cause a person lower back to hurt
Inflammation of the joints (arthritis) of the spine sometimes causes back pain. Osteoarthritis is the common form of arthritis and usually occurs in older people. Ankylosing spondylitis is another form of arthritis that can occur in young adults and which causes pain and stiffness in the lower back.
Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the most common mechanical causes of low back pain, and it occurs when the usually rubbery discs lose integrity as a normal process of aging. In a healthy back, intervertebral discs provide height and allow bending, flexion, and torsion of the lower back.
Your doctor can check to see if you have: Herniated or slipped discs: If your doctor mentions this, the soft tissue in the discs between your joints has come out. Itâs usually caused by wear and tear. Herniated discs can cause pain in your lower back or hip because the nerves there are pressed. Bulging discs: These protrude, or âbulge,â but not as much as with a herniated disc. You donât usually have symptoms with this. You'll feel it if it pushes on a nerve root, though.
Share this: Low-back problems are one of the most common reasons for visits to doctorsâ offices and the most common cause of disability among persons under the age of forty five. Most of the time, acute low-back pain is the result of simple strain and is a self-limiting condition that will resolve in four to six weeks, with or without treatment.