Lower back pain, while common, can negatively affect your life, preventing you from completing even simple tasks. Luckily, most lower back pain can be managed with a solid treatment plan. If you’re wondering why your lower back is hurting, here are three common reasons.

What Causes Lower Back Pain?

1. Muscle Strains

Muscle strains happen when the ligaments and muscles in your lower back stretch beyond what’s normal. This is usually a result of overexertion and can even lead to muscle damage. Common symptoms of a muscle strain include spams, a stiff back, and pain.

2. Herniated Disc

Your spine is cushioned by the discs. These discs have protective outer layers and inner nuclei. If the outer layer tears, the nucleus can bulge and push on your nerves. This results in a herniated disc. Herniated discs are sometimes referred to as slipped or bulging discs. They most commonly occur in the lumbar spine, which is your lower back.

Common symptoms include pain, burning, tingling or numbness.

The risk of developing a herniated disc increases as you get older. Herniated discs can result from lifting a heavy object or twisting.

3. Arthritis

Arthritis is when your joints swell, causing pain and tenderness. Degenerative Disc Disease is when arthritis occurs in the discs. It causes the cartilage in between your bones to deteriorate. This can result in pain, stiffness and less room for the nerve to exit. According to the Mayo Clinic, Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is most likely to develop in women.

Joint injuries, repeated sports injuries, age, and genetics are all contributing factors to the development of this condition.

If you’re experiencing lower back pain, visit Ezell Chiropractic in St. Charles, MO, for a wide range of treatment options. Dr. Ezell can create a custom treatment plan to help manage your lower back pain. He offers spinal adjustments, trigger point therapy, corrective exercise and more. Dr. Ezell has been recognized as one of the top 10 chiropractors in the state of Missouri for patient satisfaction. Visit his website to learn more or call (636) 486-7044 to schedule an appointment.