Common Causes Of Back Pain
The most common causes of lower back pain are sprains and strains.
Strains
Despite their size and strength, muscles of the lumbar spine can rip or tear. This is called a muscle “strain.”
A strain is the result of a heavy load or sudden force applied to the muscles before they are ready for activity. The muscle essentially rips, along with the blood vessels within the muscle tissue. This may cause bleeding into the injured area.
It can take up to two to three hours before sufficient bleeding or irritation sets in to produce significant pain. This can help explain why many people often can tolerate finishing the task at hand, only to suffer from intense pain later.
This tear in the muscle tissue is followed by symptoms such as:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Muscle spasms
Sprains
Sprains refer to an overstretching of one or more of the ligaments of the back. The ligaments can be stretched beyond their natural integrity and in some cases can completely tear.
It is common to have both ligament sprains and muscle strains occurring together. This is especially the case in severe falls and motor vehicle accidents.
Nice To Know:
Acute and intense low back pain often results from unspecific sprains and strains. Acute low back pain from lumbar strains and sprains can be accompanied by sciatica, a term used to describe pain extending down into the buttock and leg from the irritation of a larger nerve exiting the lumbar spine called the sciatic nerve.
Revision date: July 8, 2011
Last revised: by Jorge P. Ribeiro, MD