Common conditions that cause lower back pain
For patients with low back pain that lasts longer than
two weeks to three months, or with predominantly leg
pain, a more specific and definable problem is often
the source of pain. Several types of low back and leg
pain tend to be more common in either younger or older
adults.
Common types of low back pain for young adults (<
60 years old)
-
Leg pain and possible numbness
Pain that radiates through the buttocks, as
well as pain and possibly numbness that radiates
down to the foot, is frequently caused by a disc
herniation in the lumbar (lower) spine. This
type of pain is usually worse after a long period
of standing or sitting.
• See also Lumbar
disc herniation
-
Mechanical low back pain
Low back pain in young adults that is caused
by movement (such as bending forward, running) is
commonly caused by a syndrome called degenerative
disc disease. This condition can result from
a twisting injury that weakens the disc. The low
back pain symptoms of degenerative disc disease
can become chronic and may tend to fluctuate and
at times become significantly worse.
• See also Degenerative
disc disease
-
Low back pain (and possibly leg pain) that worsens
when standing or walking
Sometimes a vertebral body in the low back slips
forward, causing stress on the disc, which in turn
may cause low back pain and may sometimes cause
leg pain. These painful symptoms are sometimes caused
by a stress fracture that occurs at a young age.|
• See also Isthmic
spondylolisthesis
Common types of low back pain for older adults (>60
years old)
-
Low back pain that is worse in the morning and
in the evening, and stiffness
Low back pain that is most pronounced first
thing in the morning and later in the day is often
caused by facet joint osteoarthritis (degenerative
arthritis), a condition that involves breakdown
of the cartilage between the facet joints in the
back. The pain and stiffness is a result of the
lack of cartilage between the joints.
• See also Facet
joint osteoarthritis
-
Pain down the legs when walking and standing
upright
Leg pain that occurs when walking, and increases
with more walking, can be caused by conditions such
as lumbar spinal stenosis or degenerative
spondylolisthesis. Both conditions place pressure
on the nerves at the point where they exit the spine.
Standing upright, such as in normal walking, increases
pressure on the nerve and results in leg pain.
• See also Lumbar
spinal stenosis and Degenerative
spondylolisthesis
By:
Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
October 1999 (Updated January
3, 2002)
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