I’m a housewife in my 60s. She has had lower back pain for about 20 years, and she is constantly in pain and discomfort. What causes lower back pain? Also, please tell me about prevention methods in daily life.
“Respondent”
◆General medical department/surgery
Kishigawa Rehabilitation Hospital
Director Kazuhiko Nishimura
Many people suffer from lower back pain. However, only about 15% of patients suffer from “specific low back pain” for which the cause can be identified.
The main causes include: Compression of nerves in the spine (10%) = lumbar spinal canal stenosis, herniated disc, osteoporosis, etc. Internal diseases (2%) = chronic pancreatitis, pyelonephritis, ureteral stones, prostate Tumors, gastric/duodenal ulcers, endometriosis, uterine cancer, etc. ▽ Diseases of the spine (1%) = pyogenic spondylitis, spinal caries, metastasis of cancer (especially lung cancer and prostate cancer) to bones, compression of the lumbar vertebrae Examples include fractures. Spinal cord tumors, myocardial infarction, and dissecting aneurysms can also cause sudden, severe pain in the lower back or abdomen.
Lower back pain can be caused by a serious illness. Visit a medical institution and try to detect it early.
Recently, psychogenic lower back pain caused by stress has also become more common. Please tell your doctor about your symptoms, as the pain location and severity vary from day to day.
On the other hand, the remaining 85% is “non-specific low back pain” whose cause is difficult to identify. It is generally diagnosed as low back pain or sciatica.
Self-check for back pain from the perspective of risk
Does your pain fall under any of the following categories?
① It hurts even when you sit still…High risk (possibility of serious spinal disease or internal organ disease)
② Your back is bent…dangerous (possibility of compression fracture of the spine due to osteoporosis)
③ Pain/numbness in the buttocks or legs…Be careful/Don’t be able to walk for long due to numbness in your legs…Be careful (possibility of lumbar spinal stenosis or herniated disc, etc.)
④ Only your lower back hurts when you move your body…There is no danger (however, if the symptoms worsen or the pain continues, please consult an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible)
[How to prevent back pain]
Eliminate the causes of back pain in your life. It is especially important for people who do a lot of desk work to improve their sitting posture and learn how to sit in a way that does not put strain on their lower back. I also try to keep my body flexible by finding time to exercise and stretch frequently.
Furthermore, make a habit of moderate exercise (aerobic exercise) to make your body less prone to lower back pain.
(News Wakayama/Updated on April 27, 2024)
