Cramps and pain in lower back

Are you experiencing any cramps and pain in lower back? Does this pain make you feel uncomfortable? Do you want to know more about cramps and pain in lower back keep reading.

 

 

 

There are several causes for cramps and lower back pain, including following poor posture, muscle overuse, and sprains and strain, nerve damage, testicular cancer,

kidney infection, kidney stone, pregnancy, PMS, Dysmenorhea,fibromylia. People who experience recurring or worsening spasms or pain must see a doctor .

A usually lower back pain feels like a muscle is firmly contracting or moving. But it might also feel like a dull ache that moves, a sharp pain in a specific location, or even can be combination of these painful sensations. Some people also experience that pain from lower back spasm radiates to other areas of the body, such as the hips or legs or to other places.

 

What are causes of Cramps and pain in lower back?

Common causes of cramps and lower back pain are poor posture, arthritis, strains, dehydration , mineral depletion and nerve damage. Lower back cramps usually caused due to injuries or inflammation. In some people, the reason may be something minor, such as a mild strain. In other people, itcan be a serious underlying condition ,such as a herniatedor ruptured spinal disc.

Some of the most common causes of cramps and lower back pain include the following

• Poor posture

Poor posture, especially while sitting at a desk or in a car, can strain the back muscles which can lead to cramps andpain. Sometimes people may adapt their posture to deal with the cramps, potentially making the pain worse.

• Kidney problem

Because the kidneys are located towards back and underneath ribcage, it may be hard to tell if the pain oneis experiencing in that area is coming from back or your kidney. The symptoms          can help to figure out which is the source of the pain. Also the location, type, and severity of the painare some of the things that will be different depending on whether the pain is from a problem in kidneys or from back.

Kidney pain is felt in flank area. It usually occurs in one side of body, but it can occur in both sides sometimes. Kidney pain is mostly sharp if one has a kidney stone and a dull ache if one has an infection. Most Often it will be constant.It doesn’t get worse with movement or go away by itself without treatment. While passing a kidney stone, the painmay fluctuate as the stone moves.

Sometimes the pain radiates to inner thigh or lower abdomen.

If one has a kidney infection or a kidney stone, one may also experience following:

• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Cloudy or dark urine

• An urgent need to urinate called Urgency Pain while urination

• A recent infection in the bladder Blood in the urine

• Small kidney stones that may look like gravel in urine that may look like gravel in urine

One should always see a doctor if kidney infection or kidney stone is suspected.

• Not getting enough exercise

Exercise is really important for overall health. It is common for many people to pass much of the day sitting down or over a computer screen with no activity. Over time, this can weaken the muscles of the back and other areas of the body leading to poor health. The lower back may try

to compensate for this weakness, which can cause painful muscle cramps and pain.

• Muscle overuse and post-exercise pain

The overuse of any muscle in the body can trigger muscle cramps for a few days. So people doing intense workout Or weight lifting may experience cramps and lower back pain, but it mostly goes away after two Or three days. If it doesn’t then see a doctor.

• Strains and sprains

A sprain is described as an injury to a ligament, while a strain is a tear in a tendon or in a muscle. Both can cause muscle spasms or cramps and pain in the lower back.

Stretching the area over the limit or falling over are common causes of sprains and strains. Sometimes muscle overuse can also be the reason for strain or sprain. These injuries mostly heal on their own, but they can be very painful for days even sometimes for several weeks.

• Mineral depletion.

Less potassium, calcium or magnesium diet can contribute to cramps . Diuretics medications often prescribed for high blood pressure or in some heart diseases also can deplete these minerals.

• Nerve damage

Some  injuries that damage either the nerves in the back or the nerves that carry signals to the back can cause cramps and pain. One of the most common type of nerve damage is radiculopathy ,this disorder results from either inflammation, or compression, or injury to a nerve root in the spine. Radiculopathy can also cause tingling and pain in the pain . Some people can also experience a sensation that may feel like a muscle spasm, even though it is not.

The Sciatica is one of the most common types of radiculopathy. It results from the compression of the nerve roots that for the sciatic nerve. It usually causes pain that travels down a person’s glute area and into the leg, but the pain can radiate into the lower back as well.

Diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and some other diseases can also cause nerve problems that can lead to lower back pain.

• Disc disorders

There is a disc cushioning each vertebra in the spine of human body. Damage or injury to these discs can cause inflammation and which leads to intense back pain.

Herniated disc is one of most common types of injury in this category, This happens when a disc is compressed in

a way that it bulges out of the spinal column. Sometimes a herniated disc can even rupture, causing even more intense pain. This may feel like a muscle cramp. Ruptured or herniated disc can make it difficult for a person to do exercise or even to move. Over time, this can lead to muscle weakness that leads to back spasms.

• Stress and anxiety

Anxiety and stress may cause lower back cramps which may feel like spasms. Some people react to stress by unconsciously tensing their muscles or by producing more adrenaline which causes more anxiety. Stress and anxiety can also decrease a person’s motivation, which can lead to physical inactivity and which in turn leads to back pain. All of these factors contribute to the happening of muscle cramps. Sometimes, people even experience psychological distress as physical pain, which is a process called as somatization. The pain is real, it’s no delusion but it does not result from any physical condition or injury rather formsome emotional reaction.

• Spondylolisthesis

A crack or even a stress fracture in one of the bones of the spine can cause spondylolisthesis. This condition can even cause part of a person’s spine to move out of position which can be very dangerous and painful. The muscles can also spasm in an attempt to compensate the shifting of the spine will lead to weakness.

Spondylolisthesis is a one of the most common causes of lower back pain in young athletes.

• Testicular cancer

Usually, the first symptom of testicular cancer is a lump on the testicle, or the testicle becomes swollen or enlarged .

Some testicular tumors might cause pain, but usually they don’t. Men with testicular cancer can also have a feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen Or inthe scrotum.Low back pain, is one of advanced symptoms from cancer spread to the lymph node in back of the belly. So basically in advanced stages of testicular cancer person can experience. Lower back pain.

• Problems with the skeleton

Twisting of the spine, which occurs in scoliosis, can cause muscle cramps and pain in the lower back. Over time, this spinal deformity may also cause a person to adopt to a very less active lifestyle which can lead to muscle weakness that makes the cramps worse.

• Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis causes the spinal canal to narrow over time which then puts pressure on the nerves of the spine, potentially causing pain that feels like muscle cramp.

Some people respond to this pain with poor posture or become less active and eventually a slow lifestyle, which can worsen the cramps.

• Arthritis

Arthritis can also cause lower back pain that feels like a muscle cramp but in reality is a problem with the joints in the spine. As with other painful conditions, some people with arthritis may become less active and do less work which can cause muscle weakness and spasms’

 

Specific causes of lower back pain in women. These include following:

• Premenstrual syndrome : PMS is a condition many womenexperience before their periods. It can have many symptoms Including:

Some physical symptoms, such as:

Lower back pain Headache Fatigue

Bloating

Some emotional and behavioral symptoms, such as: Mood swings

Food cravings Anxiety

Trouble concentrating

PMS usually starts a few days before the period date andit ends within a day or two after the period starts.

• Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder

Lower back pain and cramps are more severe in it.

PMDD is a much severe form of PMS, where symptoms significantly interfere with daily routine. Some people with

PMDD can even have trouble functioning when they have severe symptoms. The emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms of PMDD are similar to that of PMS but all types of symptoms may be worse. Symptoms typically start the week before the period and end a few days after getting period.

• Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation is known as dysmenorrhea. Although it’s mostly manageable, it can be very severe in some people. Pain of dysmenorrhea is mostly felt in the lower abdomen, lower back, hips, and legs. It usually lasts from 1 to 3 days. The pain can either be dull and achy or it may feel like shooting pain which is very painful.

• Pregnancy

Back pain is very common during pregnancy. It happens because center of gravity shifts, gaining weight, and hormones relax ligaments in preparation for birth. For most women, back pain happens from fifth to seventh month of pregnancy, but it may start much earlier.

• Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disease that is poorly understood chronic condition that causes pain and tenderness in

multiple areas of the body. Many people with fibromyalgia experience muscle cramps and pain especially in lower back.

 

How to Diagnosis Cramps and pain in lower back?

Diagnosing the cause of lower back pain and cramps can be a bit challenging. For some people, for example those with fibromyalgia, the diagnosis may need to be one of exclusion, which means ruling out other conditions to determine that this is the cause.

A doctor will take a complete medical history and ask for details about the cramps about duration and exact place . A physical examination maybe done or imaging scans of the lower back and spine may also be necessary for diagnosis. If there are other symptoms, the doctor might explore whether they can be relate to the muscle cramps or no.

 

What is the Treatment for Cramps and pain in lowerback?

A doctor may recommended physical therapy as a treatment for lower back cramps and pain. Treatment mostly depends on the cause of the symptoms. While exercise and stretching can improve many causes of lower back cramp, this might not be enough for chronic conditions which require further care. Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor may recommend following:

• Pain medications
• Physical therapies
• Surgery to repair the damaged discs Spinal decompression surgery
• Antidepressants and other drugs that can help to managestress, or to cope with the impact of the physical pain on mental health

 

When to see a doctor for cramps and pain in lowerback?

Muscle cramps usually disappear on their own with no time and are rarely serious enough to require medical emergency. However, doctor must be consulted if cramps and pain :

• Cause serious discomfort

• Are associated with swelling, redness or even skin
• Are associated with severe muscle weaknessHappen frequently like twice thrice a day.

 

What is the Home management and first aid forCramps and pain in lower back?

If the pain is really intense and does not improve with home management, or keeps coming back, it is necessary to see a doctor. However, some strategies are there that may help with lower back cramp in the meantime include following:

• Applying hot and cold packs alternately to the affected area , 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for each pack must be done .
• Massaging the area gently to loosen tense muscles so pain is relieved.
• Stretching, walking, and other gentle exercises that do not strain the back further more.
• Taking over-the-counter pain medications if pain last for few hours, particularly nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
• Using relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing can help as well.

How can Prevention help in Cramps and pain inlower back?

It is not always in our hands to prevent lower back pain, but good self-care can highly reduce the risk of chronic back problems.

People should do at least exercise twice a week.

Stress management, including meditation or deep breathing, can help to prevent unconscious tensing.

People who spend extended periods sitting like office workers should stretch regularly and take hourly breaks.

Practicing good posture can also reduce the pain that comes with sitting for extended periods in one position