Pain in the lower back

The lower back is the lowest part of the back. Pain in the lower back is usually caused by muscles, but it can also be caused by intervertebral discs, vertebrae, joints, and ligaments. Lower back pain can arise acutely, for example when you 'throw your back out' or with a fracture, but also gradually due to overuse or poor posture.

Anatomy of the back

The back is divided lengthwise into 4 parts: cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, and the sacrum. The lower back includes the 5 lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum. The sacrum consists of 5 fused vertebrae. However, there are individual differences.

Between the vertebrae are intervertebral discs. These flexible discs provide cushioning and mobility of the back. In the lower back, the last intervertebral disc is between the lowest lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. A vertebra is a bony structure that consists of a vertebral arch and two articular processes.

The spinal cord runs through the entire spine. The spinal cord consists of nerve cells and nerve pathways. The spinal cord is well protected by the vertebrae through which it passes. Nerves exit from the spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae and run to all parts of the body.

Pain in the lower back

Lower back pain is a very common complaint. We often see these symptoms between the ages of 35 and 55. Back pain often goes away on its own, even without physical therapy or other therapies.

With lower back pain, a distinction is made between back pain without neurological symptoms and with neurological symptoms. Neurological symptoms include, for example, muscle weakness, tingling, and radiating pain.

Pain without neurological symptoms is mainly caused by postural disorders. If the lower back is subjected to an excessive or prolonged load, the back muscles can become overworked. This then manifests as pain in the lower back.

When symptoms have been present for less than 6 weeks, we speak of an acute back complaint. The term 'acute back complaint' is often used incorrectly because people think there is only an acute back problem when the pain 'shoots in'. This does not have to be the case; 'acute back complaint' only indicates the time frame.

Back complaints usually disappear by themselves after a short period because the cause is often an overuse of the back. Overuse can mean that the load was too great, for example when lifting a heavy object. However, it also often occurs that the load capacity is too low. This means the back can handle less load than would normally be expected. Insufficient conditioning of the back and abdominal muscles underlies this.

The so-called feeling stuck in the back is, in most cases, not a problem of the vertebrae but of the muscles. If it is in the vertebrae, there is an underlying medical diagnosis or deformity. It is cramped muscles that pull the vertebrae into a cramped position. The function of muscles is to allow vertebrae to move relative to each other. If one muscle is pulled excessively, it pulls the vertebra excessively to one side.

Pain in the lower back with neurological symptoms is usually caused by nerve entrapment in the back. This can be due to an intervertebral disc pressing outward against the nerve, problems with joints, or a combination of these. With these symptoms, the pain area is larger than just the lower back and the symptoms can extend down to the foot.

Check your symptoms

To get a good first impression of the cause of your back pain, we advise you to take the online physical therapy check. By first indicating where you have back pain and then answering the questions, your back pain is compared with the most common back complaints within physical therapy. If necessary, you can visit a physical therapist near you for a professional examination.

Conditions

The conditions below can cause pain in the lower back. Each article is clearly illustrated and provides extensive information about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options.