Pain in the Lower Back While Bending Down
If your back hurts when you bend down, it's important to think about how bad the pain is. If it's just a little soreness, it could be from a muscle cramp or strain. But if the pain is really bad, it might mean you have a herniated disc or another serious back problem.
Understanding the Causes of Lower Back Pain When Bending Over: 5 Key Factors
Your spine and back are sensitive parts of your body that can be influenced by various factors. Here are some reasons why your back might hurt when you bend over:
Muscle spasms
Muscle spasms or cramps are very common and can happen to anyone. They often occur during exercise or after working out. Some common causes include not drinking enough water (dehydration), poor blood flow to the muscles, pinched nerves, or when muscles are used too much.
For example, lower back muscle spasms can happen when you're bending over to lift something heavy, but they can also occur during any lower body movement.
To treat muscle spasms, you can try stretching, gentle massage of the affected area, or applying ice or heat to relax the muscles. These methods can help relieve the discomfort and loosen up tight muscles.
Strained muscle
A strained or pulled muscle happens when a muscle gets stretched too far or tears. This usually occurs due to:
- Strenuous physical activity
- Repeated use of the muscle
- Not being flexible enough
If you have a strained muscle in your lower back, start by applying ice to the area as soon as you feel the pain. After a couple of days of using ice, switch to applying heat. Rest for a few days and then slowly start doing gentle exercises and stretches for the muscle. Your doctor might suggest taking over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen to ease the pain.
Herniated disc
The spine is made up of various parts, including spinal discs and vertebrae. When a disc slips, it means the soft center of the disc bulges out, which can press on nearby nerves and cause intense shooting pain.
To treat a slipped disc, doctors often recommend rest, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, and physical therapy. Usually, the pain gets better within about six weeks with these treatments. If the pain persists after this time, your doctor might suggest an epidural steroid injection around the affected nerve to reduce inflammation and pain. In some cases, if symptoms continue, surgery might be considered as an option.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis happens when one of the bones in your spine (vertebra) gets injured and shifts forward over the one below it. This condition is more common in younger people who do sports like gymnastics or weightlifting. It often occurs because of a prior untreated condition called spondylolysis, which is a small fracture or crack in a part of the vertebra that connects the joints in your spine.
Treatment options for spondylolisthesis can include wearing a back brace, doing physical therapy exercises, taking pain-relieving medication, or in some cases, having surgery.
Arthritis
If you're 55 or older and have lower back pain, it could be due to arthritis. Arthritis happens when the cushioning (cartilage) around your joints wears down, leading to pain and stiffness. There are different kinds of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
If your lower back hurts, it might be a type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, which makes the bones in your spine fuse together. Treatment can involve taking pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or having surgery if the pain is really bad.
Takeaway
The pain you feel in your back when you bend down is probably because of a muscle pull or strain. But it could also be a more serious issue like a herniated disc. If you have strong back pain, blood in your urine, changes in how you use the bathroom, pain when lying down, or a fever, you should see a doctor immediately.
If your back pain doesn't get better with time, make an appointment with your doctor to figure out what's causing it.
Disclaimer:
Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.
