Lower backaches are episodes of soreness or pain in your back, below your ribcage.
What causes it?
One of the more common causes of lower back pain is straining or pulling a muscle. Another reason people might experience back pain is a less-active lifestyle, because sitting for a long period of time puts pressure on the lower back area. It might also be caused by a compressed nerve or inflammation. Lower back pain is also very common in pregnancy, due to pressure that the fetus can exert on the mother’s spine.
Tips?
Try to think back and remember if you did any exercise or heavy lifting that could have strained your back. You can put a hot or cold pack on your lower back to relieve inflammation or pain, and take some pain relievers for the pain. Call your provider if the pain doesn’t go away after a few days.
Sources
- “Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.” NINDS. NIH Publication No. 15-5161, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Dec 2014. Web.
- “Low back pain.” AAOS. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dec 2013. Web.
