What's the Cause of Your Lower Back Pain?

You're going about your day when a painful spasm hits, causing you to stop short and rub that area just above your hips. The culprit? Lower back pain. Millions of people experience this condition on a regular basis. Too many of them haven't any idea what's triggering these painful episodes.

Straining a muscle is often the reason for lower back pain. Exactly what's going on? Essentially, you're overdoing your activities or lifting heavy objects improperly. So the muscles in your lower back end up being stretched in an unfamiliar way.

Most often, this is not a serious injury. You will, however, need to stop twisting and turning for a few weeks. Stock up on ice and find a comfortable place to lay down.

Lumbar sprains, like muscle strains, are another common reason for suffering lower back pain. But unlike a strain, lumbar sprains can be much more painful, because it's a result of the ligaments being torn. Think of ligaments as the cables that keep a suspension bridge in place. If one of the cables breaks, the bridge suddenly becomes less stable and reliable.

Women often experience lower back pain as a result of menstrual cramping or premenstrual syndrome. In the later months of pregnancy there is also increased pressure on your vertebrae and spine. This causes pinched nerves and a considerable amount of discomfort. Another women's health concern associated with lower back pain is endometriosis.

When your muscles aren't properly stretched on a regular basis, upper back pain can result as well. Even performing some back and arm stretches first thing every day can dramatically improve the health of your spine. To help ease the pain, try exercising your back muscles; this is especially important if your day to day tasks consist of repeating the same motions over and over.

There's a large assortment of triggers that lead to lower back pain, anything from straining a muscle to problems with your sciatic nerves. Make an appointment with your doctor to get a diagnosis through an examination and perhaps some further testing.

The best approach to back pain treatment is to be proactive rather than letting it slide. You can do a lot of damage just by waiting even a few weeks. Like they say, it's better to be safe than sorry.