What Causes Lower Back Pain?
Your lower back is in pain. But… you’re young! You usually bounce back quickly from any injury. You’re not a middle-aged person who is constantly grabbing their lower back and groaning (there are also MANY middle-aged people who don’t do this). But you feel like even the simple act of standing in place or sitting down is torture. Why? Before seeing a New York Physical Therapist, read on.
There are several reasons why this may be happening. Those can range from something you did to conditions that cause discs in your spine to degenerate. There are also usually exercises or stretches that can be done to help alleviate your discomfort or pain.
Fear not. Here are 5 reasons why young adults suffer from lower back pain.
Back Strains
Your back strain can have a bunch of different causes. Were you lifting heavy boxes at work and not paying attention to form – like lifting with your legs and not just bending over to pick up the box? Did you exercise too much without giving your body time to rest? You may have also twisted your body at an awkward angle.
Whatever the case, your back muscles had very tiny tears and you need to rest to keep it from getting worse. If you still need to lift things at work, be sure to get a back support belt that keeps your muscles stable. Otherwise, stay away from any heavy weights for at least a couple of weeks. You may need painkillers like Tylenol to help sleep.
Back Injuries: Spondylolisthesis & Spondylolysis
This happens when there is slipping between two vertebrates. The problem is that sometimes there are no symptoms, whereas others can have everything from spinal stenosis to leg pain to low back pain. Then there is just classifying it… there are five types:
- Isthmic: Mostly young adults get this due to stress fractures in their lower spine.
- Degenerative: Mostly adults get this from wear and tear over the years on the spine.
- Traumatic: The young adult may have been in an accident, which then caused trauma to the spine.
- Dysplastic: This is a congenital form that is usually in the lower back.
- Pathologic: This is caused by illness or conditions like tumors.
Juvenile Degenerative Disc Disease
Even though “Degenerative Disc Disease” sounds like something that should be happening to a middle-aged person, the “Juvenile” in front highlights that it can happen to younger people. The discs between your vertebrae have begun to break down early and you feel a lot of pain or discomfort from even doing something as simple as sitting down.
How long do episodes last? Up to several months. People even find that they feel more comfortable standing up or walking around instead of sitting down. This might be a good time to look into that standing desk again so that you can work without back pain.
Cervical Radiculopathy
This is the medical term for something that many of you are likely much more familiar with: a pinched nerve. While people tend to associate this with numbness in the arms or legs, it can affect the back.
Lumbar Herniated Disc (Sciatica)
Your spine is protected by hard discs that are full of gel. When that gel protrudes from the spine, it can affect the nearby nerves. If this happens in the lower back, then it can hit the sciatic nerve and cause pain and discomfort. The good thing is that the symptoms don’t last very long, usually resolving itself in about six weeks, even with no medication.
Remember. you may be a young adult, but that does not mean that your body is indestructible. Yes, it may take a bit shorter to recover than if you were older, but you can do a lot of damage that can wind up making your later years a lot less comfortable. Surgery may wind up being a very real possibility and then you will face rehab.
Yes, there are some things that are out of your control, but most of these can be avoided if you make sure that you have good form when you lift anything heavy, whether it’s weights or a package that you ordered. Try to sit properly when you are at your desk or sitting watching a TV show or a movie. Doing that can stave off any possibly problems and keep you from having unnecessary pain when you are young.
Seeking Lower Back Pain Relief? Contact Experienced Physiotherapists In Manhattan
When it comes to helping people, the staff at Empire Physical Medicine & Pain Management have seen clients of all ages. They can definitely work with young adults to get them back on the path that they were on prior to their injury. Their Manhattan offices are a short subway ride away – one location is at Midtown and the other is near Wall Street. Give them a call today to make an appointment – 646-665-7109.
This blog post is courtesy of Phoenix Physical Therapy Rehabilitation PLLC. They have three locations – Brooklyn, Rosedale, and Levittown.
Empire Physical Medicine & Pain Management
7 W 45th St floor 9,
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (646) 665-7109
Website: https://manhattanpainrelief.com
