There are many causes of lower back pain, which is one of the main reasons people miss work and visit the doctor. In some cases, there is no reason why some people suffer from lower back pain. Sometimes, lower back pain is the result of the normal aging process. Thankfully, lower back pain is usually self-diagnosable and self-treatable.
COVID-19, Working from Home, and the Causes of Lower Back Pain
The global COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of people working from home as businesses shut down. Employees had to set up home offices to continue working. Unfortunately, the set-up of these home offices increased the number of people suffering from lower back pain. People spent many hours sitting in chairs that were not supportive or ergonomic. Sitting in these chairs resulted in people having poor posture, which is one of the causes of lower back pain.
COVID-19 is not one of the causes of lower back pain, but COVID-19 does cause inflammation in the body. You may feel pain in your lower back from bodily inflammation. Low back pain is often the result of overexertion and feels different than low back pain from bodily inflammation. Pain from overexertion lasts a few days and is manageable when you take over-the-counter medications. Inflammation pain from COVID-19 can last several weeks.
Also, people who suffer through or are recovering from COVID-19 spend many hours in bed for several days. Lying in bed in awkward positions for many hours beyond regular sleeping hours can cause lower back pain.
The Causes of Lower Back Pain
- Congenital – Conditions that cause an exaggerated curvature or arch in the back like scoliosis, lordosis, and kyphosis will create low back pain.
- Injuries – Playing high-impact sports, car accidents, and falls can strain or strain the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that keep the spine stable. Injuries can potentially compress the spine and cause ruptured or herniated discs.
- Degenerative Issues – The spine goes through wear-and-tear and naturally degenerates with age. Degenerative spine issues that lead to lower back pain include intervertebral disc degeneration, spondylosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Nerve and Spinal Cord Issues – Sciatica, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis are common causes of lower back pain. These issues happen when the spinal column pinches or puts pressure on the spinal nerves. Other problems that affect the nerves and spinal cord include herniated or ruptured discs, infections, osteoporosis, and cauda equina syndrome.
- Other sources of low back pain – The causes of lower back pain do not always involve the spine. These other sources include kidney stones, tumors, pregnancy, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis.
Relieving the Causes of Lower Back Pain
There are many devices you can buy to help provide you with relief from your lower back pain. When you use one of these products along with over-the-counter pain relief medication, it can reduce the pain, increase your mobility, and improve your quality of life. These products are relatively inexpensive, but there are higher-price premium options.
Pros:
- Quiet, versatile, and portable
- Up to six hours of battery life
Cons:
- May lack power for some users
This device does a lot more than stretch your lower back and neck. For $15.99, you can get a product that relieves low back pain, improves your posture, and stimulates the muscles in your back and neck. The Comfomedic Lower Back Stretcher and Neck Stretcher stabilizes your spinal column and relieves sciatica, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and other causes of lower back pain. This simple device is durable, and you can adjust the height to get the pain and stress relief you need.
Pros:
- Adjustable and durable design
- Affordable
- Gentle back decompression
Cons:
- Some may prefer foam rollers
KT Tape is a simple way to help relieve low back pain. You may have seen professional athletes wear this elastic tape. Thankfully, you do not have to be an athlete to get the benefits of this tape. This tape is drug-free, hypoallergenic, latex-free, and easy to use. At a current price of $14.78, KT Tape will support your muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments in different parts of your body, including your lower back.
Pros:
- Endorsed and used by professional athletes
- Provides stability on different parts of the body
Cons:
- Falls off after with increase in sweat and activity
- Hard to take off when used on hairy parts of the body
Here is a device that specifically targets the causes of lower back pain and provides relief. In addition to low back pain relief, this product supports your back, helps to stabilize the spine, and relieves pressure on the joints. At a current price of $225, the Bauerfeind SacroLoc Back Support Pain Relief is at the top of the price range on this list. Yet, it alleviates back and hip discomfort and stimulates blood circulation through cushioned massaging pads.
Pros:
- Lightweight, comfortable, washable, moisture-wicking material
- Wraps around the waist for use on top of clothing
Cons:
- Not adjustable
- Need accurate waist measurement for proper fit
The BraceAbility LSO Back Brace is a product that keeps your back stable. It uses anterior and posterior panels to improve your posture and reduce the pressure on your spine and hips. This brace comes with a gel pack that you can use for hot or cold therapy and fits in a pocket on the back of the belt. The current price of this belt is $119.99, and it comes in sizes small through 4x-Large.
Pros:
- Provides relief from the causes of lower back pain
- It is often used for post-surgery recovery
Cons:
- It can be challenging to put on for some users
This cordless heating decompression belt from Goldmille can work better than traditional heat therapy. The heat that this belt generates penetrates deep into the skin to provide you with relief from the causes of low back pain. This belt fits people with a waist up to 49 inches, and it is safe and comfortable to use. The current price of this belt is $75.95.
Pros:
- Three adjustable heating levels
- Heating material made from safe and comfortable carbon fiber
Cons:
- Fully charged battery only lasts 90 minutes
The TENS unit Machine Pulse Massager stimulates the muscles in your lower back and other areas of your body to alleviate pain. This device has 24 massage modes, and it comes with a treatment points chart to help you place the ten muscle stimulating pads in the right spot. The current price of this TENS unit is $35.99.
Pros:
- Affordable price compared to other TENS units
- Clearly labeled modes to customize your treatment
Cons:
- Pads may cause a rash in people with sensitive skin
Cold light therapy can be an option to alleviate the causes of low back pain. This hand-held device uses wavelengths of light that pass through layers of skin to treat the source of the pain. You can use this device up to four times a day, seven days a week, to treat acute back pain. The current price of the BST Luxury Portable Handheld Cold Light Therapy Device Kit is $228.
Pros:
- Non-invasive drug-free lower back pain treatment
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Inconsistent results
Poor posture is one of the leading causes of low back pain. The SOMAZ Adjustable Posture Corrector helps to strengthen back muscles and improve body alignment to prevent lower back pain. It does this by pulling the shoulders back while supporting the back. This posture corrector is for men, women, and children, and the sizes come in Small through X-Large. The current price is $29.99.
Pros:
- Comfortable unisex design
- Strengthens the shoulders and upper back to correct poor posture
Cons:
- Causes too much pain in some users
There are many solutions to prevent the causes of low back pain. You must do your research and talk to your doctor for recommended treatments. Try using multiple remedies to find the right one that works best in alleviating the causes of lower back pain.
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