Why Does My Lower Back Hurt?
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek help from a healthcare professional. Sometimes it starts after lifting something heavy or making an awkward movement. Other times, it seems to appear for no obvious reason.
You might wake up one morning with a stiff back. You might notice pain after sitting at your desk all day.
Or maybe your back starts bothering you after spending several hours in the car, working in the yard, exercising, or playing with your kids.
The good news is that experiencing lower back pain does not necessarily mean something is seriously wrong. There are many different factors that can contribute to back pain, and understanding those factors is an important first step toward addressing the problem.
At Cary Chiropractic, Dr. Fuller works with patients from Cary, Apex, Raleigh, Holly Springs, and surrounding communities who are dealing with back pain and want to better understand what may be contributing to it.
Here are seven common causes of lower back pain.
1. Sitting for Long Periods of Time
Modern life requires many of us to spend a significant portion of the day sitting.
You may sit at a desk for work, spend time sitting in your car during your commute, or relax on the couch at night. While sitting itself isn’t necessarily harmful, spending long periods in one position can contribute to stiffness and discomfort for some people.
When you’re sitting for hours at a time, the muscles and joints around your lower back may not move through their normal range of motion as frequently.
This can be particularly noticeable for people who work at a computer or spend a lot of time driving.
If your back pain seems to be worse after a long workday or a long car ride, prolonged sitting may be one factor worth considering.
2. Lifting Something the Wrong Way
You don’t necessarily have to lift something extremely heavy to irritate your lower back.
A sudden movement, twisting while lifting, or attempting to lift an object from an awkward position can place additional stress on the muscles and joints of the lower back.
This can happen at work, at the gym, while doing household chores, or even when picking something up around the house.
Sometimes the pain begins immediately. Other times, you may not notice the discomfort until later.
If you’ve recently lifted something and developed new or worsening back pain, it’s worth paying attention to how the symptoms developed and whether they continue to improve.
3. Muscle Strain and Overuse
Your lower back is involved in countless movements throughout the day.
Walking, bending, lifting, reaching, exercising, cleaning, gardening, and many other activities require your back and surrounding muscles to work together.
Doing more activity than your body is accustomed to can sometimes lead to muscle soreness or strain.
For example, someone who spends most of the week sitting at a desk may experience back soreness after spending an entire Saturday doing yard work.
The activity itself isn’t necessarily the problem. The sudden increase in activity may simply be more than the body was prepared for.
4. Poor Movement Habits
When people hear the phrase “poor posture,” they often think about sitting up straight.
Posture is important, but the way you move throughout the day can be just as important.
Repeatedly bending, twisting, reaching, or lifting in the same way can place stress on certain areas of the body.
Over time, these repetitive movements may contribute to discomfort.
This is one reason it’s useful to look beyond the location of the pain itself. Instead of only asking, “Where does it hurt?” it can also be helpful to ask: “What am I doing every day that might be contributing to this?”
5. Previous Injuries
For example, someone who has previously injured their back, been involved in a car accident, or experienced a sports injury may unconsciously change the way they move.
That compensation can sometimes place additional stress on other areas.
This doesn’t mean every new episode of back pain is caused by an old injury. However, your history is an important part of understanding your current symptoms.
At Cary Chiropractic, Dr. Fuller considers a patient’s history, current symptoms, and overall movement when evaluating a new complaint.
6. Lack of Movement and Physical Activity
Just as doing too much activity can contribute to soreness, doing very little physical activity can also affect how your body feels.
Your body is designed to move.
When you’re physically inactive for long periods, you may notice increased stiffness or decreased mobility. This can become especially noticeable when you suddenly ask your body to perform an activity that it isn’t accustomed to.
Regular movement and appropriate physical activity can be an important part of maintaining overall musculoskeletal health.
The goal isn’t necessarily to spend hours in the gym. Consistent movement throughout the day can make a difference.
7. Everyday Stress
Stress doesn’t necessarily “cause” every episode of back pain, but it can influence how we experience and respond to discomfort.
When people are stressed, they may unconsciously tighten certain muscles, sleep differently, move less, or spend more time sitting.
Stress can also affect sleep, and poor sleep can make it harder to recover from physical discomfort.
That’s why looking at the bigger picture can be helpful when you’re trying to understand persistent back pain.
Your daily habits, activity level, sleep, work environment, and previous injuries may all be pieces of the puzzle.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for Lower Back Pain?
Not every episode of back pain requires professional care. Some mild cases may improve with time, normal movement, and appropriate self-care.
However, if your pain is persistent, keeps returning, interferes with your normal activities, or you’re unsure what may be causing it, an evaluation may be worthwhile.
A chiropractor can evaluate how your spine and surrounding joints and muscles are functioning and determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
At Cary Chiropractic, Dr. Fuller takes the time to understand what you’re experiencing and what may have contributed to your symptoms before developing an appropriate approach to care.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Lower Back Pain?
Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the spine, nervous system, joints, muscles, and overall movement.
Depending on the individual and the cause of their symptoms, chiropractic care may include spinal adjustments, mobility work, soft-tissue techniques, exercise recommendations, and advice about movement and daily activities.
The goal isn’t simply to chase the location of the pain.
Lower Back Pain in Cary and the Surrounding Area?
If you’re dealing with lower back pain, you don’t have to simply assume that discomfort is something you have to live with.
At Cary Chiropractic, Dr. Fuller works with patients throughout Cary and surrounding communities, including Apex, Raleigh, and Holly Springs.
Whether your back pain started after lifting something, spending too much time sitting, exercising, an old injury, or seemingly for no reason at all, the first step is understanding what may be contributing to it.
Don’t Ignore Persistent Back Pain
Lower back pain can have many different causes, and identifying those contributing factors can be an important part of getting back to the activities you enjoy.
If you’re experiencing ongoing or recurring lower back pain, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Fuller at Cary Chiropractic to discuss your symptoms and determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.