We all experience lower back pain at some point in our lives. Whether it’s due to bad posture or being overweight, lower back pain can be harmless and easily reversible with a few lifestyle changes. However, as we grow older, it becomes more of a health complication and poses many risks. This is because aging causes our bodies to lose the ability to take in and maintain water, which is another reason for dehydration. This lack of water content results in our bodies becoming less flexible, causing pain and discomfort. If ignored, spinal pathologies like infection and fracture will develop. As such, here are some causes of lower back pain in loved ones, so that you can identify them earlier on and prevent further worsening of the back and spine.
Muscle Strain and Sprain
Muscle strain and sprain are two of the most common causes of lower back pain, so they aren’t big concerns. However, this does not mean that your loved ones should ignore them as well. Muscle strains occur when the muscle is over-stretched, likely due to poor flexibility, overuse, and fatigue. This is also a reason why we should do proper warm-ups first before exercising or performing any vigorous activities. Let’s say the over-stretched muscles lead to the ligaments tearing, this is then called a sprain. Compared to muscle strain, sprains take a longer time to heal as the ligaments connect to the bone. In order for your loved ones to avoid getting their muscles strained or sprained, they should try not to lift heavy objects, have rapid movements that cause stress to the lower back, or be in bad postures.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Though its name may suggest a disease, it’s actually not. Instead, Degenerative Disc Disease is a relatively common symptom that comes with aging. As we grow older, the water content in our intervertebral discs decreases, resulting in these discs being dehydrated and broken down. As such, our spines are then unable to withstand the forces that cause ligament tears, which explains why some older adults may experience lower back pain. These discs play an extremely crucial role in our bodies as they are what allow us to bend or flex forward and backward.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis describes the pain felt around the spinal cord. The pain occurs when the space surrounding the spinal cord faces a large amount of pressure, resulting in numbness and cramping. Compared to other causes of lower back pain, spinal stenosis is one of the more common ones among older adults and has a high chance of developing due to aging factors, unhealthy diet, bad postures, and a sedentary lifestyle. If your loved ones do encounter pain in the neck as well, it’s most likely because of spinal stenosis.
Sciatica
At times, older adults may also complain of pain felt through the hips and down to the legs. In such cases, they may be living with sciatica, a condition that refers to the pain radiating along the sciatic nerve. Even though sciatica causes both sides of the body to be in discomfort, some loved ones may only experience it on just one side of their body. The pain can come in the form of a tingling sensation, numbness, or weakness. If your loved ones do encounter this problem, we recommend seeking advice and help from a certified medical professional.
