You had a great night's sleep, but as you propped yourself up on your elbow to roll out of bed, you had a sudden twinge in your lower back. Now you're in pain and you feel like you can't get through the day.

Has anything like this ever happened to you? You're not alone! Sixteen million American adults suffer from chronic back pain that limits their abilities.

What are the causes of lower back pain? What can you do if you have chronic lower back pain?

Learn more about lower back pain, lower back pain causes, and pain management in this article.

Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

All parts of your body are vulnerable to strains and sprains in certain situations. The back is no different. One of the most common causes of lower back pain is a sprain or strain.

Lifting something too heavy while using the wrong body mechanics is common and results in a strained or sprained back ligament. Sports injuries are another cause, especially in people who only play occasionally — like a weekend softball league.

Did you feel a pull while lifting something or playing sports? Start by icing the painful area to reduce the inflammation.

Use medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to reduce swelling and inflammation. Always read the label of any medication you take to make sure it's okay for you. If you have questions, call your doctor.

If the pain doesn't go away after a week or so, it's possible the problem is more than a strain or sprain and you should contact a pain specialist.

Other Causes of Chronic Low Back Pain

If you have constant low back pain, it's likely you have a problem in the joints or vertebrae, nerves, or lumbar disks. There are a number of conditions that cause chronic low back pain. Here are some of the common causes of low back pain.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common form of arthritis. OA is when the cartilage around the joints wears down over time. OA is often an underlying cause of lower back pain.

Compression Fractures

Sometimes a vertebra in your lumbar spine collapses. This is often the result of trauma but it also happens in people with osteoporosis.

Are you feeling sudden severe pain and reduced mobility in your low back? A compression fracture may be the culprit. If you have sudden-onset severe low back pain, it's time to see a pain specialist.

Herniated Disks

Did you know you have about 17 bones in the vertebrae? These are stacked on top of each other with an intervertebral disk between each bone.

The intervertebral disk is fibrous with an inner and outer layer of gel that acts as a shock absorber. Sometimes the inner gel slips outside the outer gel and presses on the surrounding nerves. This causes a lot of pain.

A herniated disk occurs from trauma or even age-related wear and tear on the disks.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is another problem that results from pressure on nerve roots. If the spinal canal in your lower back narrows, the resulting pressure causes pain.

What causes the narrowing? Sometimes it's degeneration of one of the lumbar disks. Other times it's from ligament thickening or bone spur formation.

Sometimes spinal stenosis causes sciatica which is a painful condition of the lower back that radiates pain to the lower limbs.

Facet Joint Problems

Another possible cause of back pain is facet joint damage. The facet joints are the joints that connect the vertebrae in your lower back. The cartilage breaks down over time and this sometimes leads to lower back pain.

Poor posture is sometimes the culprit in the breakdown of the cartilage. Other times, it's facet damage from overuse or even osteoarthritis. Facet joint issues lead to stiffness, inflammation, and muscle spasms which cause pain in the low back.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is when a vertebra in the lumbar spine slips forward placing it over the top of the vertebra below it. This compresses the disk separating the vertebrae.

As the disk deteriorates it often causes low back pain. Spondylolisthesis sometimes happens when a small bone called the pars interarticularis fractures. A fracture can happen when you're young and not cause pain until much later in life.

Compressed disks also sometimes lead to nerve compression causing sciatica and pain.

Spinal Deformities

Spinal deformities such as scoliosis also lead to low back pain. One such spinal deformity is scoliosis.

Everyone has a natural "S" curve of the spine. It starts in the upper back and curves backward and the lower back curves forward. For those with scoliosis, the curve is sideways when looked at from behind.

Improper curvature of the spine makes lumbar joint and disk degeneration more likely which leads to low back pain.

Lower Back Pain Symptoms

Lower back pain symptoms appear suddenly for some people but for others, they appear gradually. You won't always have a precipitating event for pain.

If you feel pain radiating down the back of your legs, that's likely sciatica. Sometimes you'll hear a popping sound if you do something that causes an injury.

Other symptoms of a low back problem include stiffness, muscle spasms, and posture problems. Some muscle spasms cause extreme pain making it hard to walk or even move.

Diagnosing Low Back Pain

There are several ways a pain specialist diagnoses low back pain. He may order a spine x-ray, an MRI, a CT scan, or an electromyography (EMG) test.

He may order other tests as well depending on the type of pain you have. Some conditions, such as kidney stones, cause pain in the low back and sides.

Get Treatment for the Causes of Lower Back Pain

There are many causes of lower back pain so it's crucial to see a doctor if you're in chronic pain. The doctor will diagnose your condition and get you on the right pain management plan for your situation. Don't let your lower back pain go untreated.

Are you suffering from chronic low back pain? Contact the Colorado Pain Experts and make an appointment today!

Neck pain is no laughing matter. As many as 2.7% of people throughout the world will experience neck pain at some point in their lives. This makes neck pain one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the world.

What makes neck pain so tricky is that there are many causes of it. One prominent cause is a pinched nerve, which can cause pain alongside other symptoms. When you have a pinched nerve in your neck, you need to know a few things for adequate pain management.

What happens when you pinch a nerve in your neck? Besides pain, what other symptoms are there? How can you get effective treatment for a pinched nerve?

Answer these questions and you can live a pain-free life in no time. Here is your quick guide.

The Essentials of a Pinched Nerve in Your Neck

Nerves extend down from your brain into your spinal cord, transmitting signals throughout your body. The vertebrae protect the nerves from damage and provide support to your body.

If one vertebra slips, the nerve can become pinched. The nerve may become damaged, especially if the vertebra is not corrected in time.

Keep in mind that any one of your vertebrae can slip and pinch a nerve. If you have a pinched nerve in your neck, you probably have an issue with your cervical spine. Your cervical spine contains vertebrae and intervertebral discs, and a slip in one of your discs can pinch a nerve.

Pinched Nerve Symptoms

Most people experience only neck pain when they have a pinched nerve. The pain can be sharp, stabbing, or searing. Your pain may get worse when you try to move around or twist your neck.

The pain may radiate out from your neck into your head or down your back. This can make it hard to tell if you have a pinched nerve in your neck or somewhere else. You may also confuse the pain for a muscle ache or strain.

You may encounter numbness. If you poke the area around your nerve, you may not feel anything. Some people experience tingling or a sensation akin to being pricked with needles.

If your nerve remains pinched over a long period of time, you may feel weakness. It may become harder to move your neck or head.

Causes and Risk Factors

A vertebra or spinal disc can slip for a few different reasons. Repetitive and extreme motions can force a disc out of place. An athlete who runs back and forth across a field or swings an object many times can push one of their discs.

You can also pinch a nerve after you hold your body in place for a long period of time. You may contort your neck while you are sleeping, applying pressure to a nerve.

Older Americans can experience pinched nerves more often than younger people. Many older people develop rheumatoid arthritis, which can inflame joints and put pressure on nerves. The aging process also creates wear and tear, causing the spine to flatten.

Obese people are at higher risk as well. Body fat can cause swelling around nerves. People with diabetes can sustain nerve damage because high blood sugar levels damage nerves, especially in the extremities.

Diagnosis

Symptoms are a telling sign that you have pinched a nerve in your neck. But you cannot diagnose a pinched nerve based on your symptoms alone. You can receive a diagnosis of a pinched nerve within one doctor's visit.

Your doctor can run a few different imaging tests on your neck and back. An X-ray can reveal where your spinal cord has narrowed or changed alignment. If your doctor needs to look at your soft tissue, they can run an MRI.

Pinched Nerve Treatments

You can get a few treatments for pinched nerves. Many doctors recommend that you rest and manage your pain with medications like ibuprofen. Most cases improve by themselves within a few weeks, once the spinal discs settle back into place.

If you continue to experience pain, you should visit a pain specialist. They can give you a collar to hold your neck in place so you don't strain your neck.

If that doesn't work, they can teach you physical therapy. Doing a few stretches can take pressure off of your nerves and relieve pain and muscle weakness.

There is no one stretch that everyone with a pinched nerve does. Side bends involve clasping your arms over your head while keeping your neck and head straight. You then lean slowly over to the right and then to the left, repeating ten times or until you feel relief from neck and back tension.

Walking can help you build muscles and distract your mind from your pain. Try to go for short walks and slowly increase your duration over time.

You can receive surgery, but only as a last resort. If your disc is damaged, you can get an artificial disc replacement. A surgeon will remove your damaged disc and replace it with an artificial device, which will allow you to move without pain.

Effective Pain Management for Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve in your neck can be devastating. A misaligned vertebra or spinal cord disc can apply pressure on your nerve, causing pain, muscle weakness, and numbness. Repetitive motions, wear and tear, and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can result in pinched nerves.

But you can get a diagnosis quickly and start treatment. Rest and basic stretches can resolve most cases. If your pain doesn't resolve, surgeons can replace your damaged spinal discs.

Don't hesitate with a pinched nerve. Colorado Pain Experts provides pain management solutions for the Loveland area. Contact us today.