What Conditions are Associated
With Low Back Pain?

There are many different conditions of the spine that are associated with and cause chronic low back pain. Some of these conditions require treatment by a doctor, alternative healthcare provider and believe it or not many times you can help yourself with muscle balance therapy, a natural approach. These conditions include:

Sciatica (one of the most common)
The term sciaticais commonly used to describe pain traveling in the distribution of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is a symptom caused by compression of one of the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve. This compression is often caused by a lumbar disc herniation or bulge, which may put pressure or even displace the nerve root.

Facet Syndrome
Facet joints are small joints, which attach adjacent vertebral bodies together and help with range of motion of the spine in the neck and back. Like any joint they have a fluid in them called synovial fluid. With chronic pressure, degeneration or trauma, arthritis may develop in these joints, which can be a source of back pain.


Disc Herniation (Bulging Disc, Herniated Disc)
A Herniated disc or slipped disc can happen anywhere in the spine, and surprisingly, a slipped disc does not actually slip. Instead, the disc, which is located between the bones of the spine (vertebrae), splits or ruptures. When this happens, the inner gel-like substance (nucleus pulposus) leaks out. This is called a herniation of the nucleus pulposus—or a herniated disc. People between the ages of 30 and 50 are most at risk for herniation because the elasticity and water content of the nucleus pulposus decrease with age. Not every herniated disc causes symptoms. In fact, many people discover they have a herniated disc after having an x-ray for an unrelated reason.

A much more serious complication of a ruptured disc is cauda equina syndrome, which occurs when disc material is pushed into the spinal canal and compresses the bundle of lumbar and sacral nerve roots. Permanent neurological damage may result if this syndrome is left untreated. Not every herniated disc causes symptoms.

Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a gradual process that may compromise the spine. Although DDD is relatively common, its effects are usually not severe enough to warrant medical attention unless it begins to cause back pain. Degenerated discs may also be prone to disc herniation. As the thickness of a disc decreases during the degenerative process, exiting nerve roots may become compromised which could lead to sciatic type pain.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The sacroiliac (SI) joint is a strong, weight bearing synovial joint between the ilium and sacrum bones of the pelvis. The bones are held in place and allowed limited movements by a system of sacroiliac ligaments. Relaxation of this and other joints and ligaments is important during pregnancy. Like any other joint, the SI joint can develop inflammation by trauma or chronic asymmetric pressure on the joint. Pain from the SI joint can be in the low back/buttock area and may radiate into the legs as well.

Spinal Degeneration from disc wear and tear can lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal. A person with spinal degeneration may experience stiffness in the back upon awakening or may feel pain after walking or standing for a long time.

Spinal stenosis related to congenital narrowing of the bony canal predisposes some people to pain related to disc disease.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease marked by progressive decrease in bone density and strength. Fracture of brittle, porous bones in the spine and hips results when the body fails to produce new bone and/or absorbs too much existing bone. Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. Caucasian women of northern European heritage are at the highest risk of developing the condition.

Skeletal irregularities produce strain on the vertebrae and supporting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues supported by spinal column. These irregularities include scoliosis, a curving of the spine to the side; kyphosis, in which the normal curve of the upper back is severely rounded; lordosis, an abnormally accentuated arch in the lower back; back extension, a bending backward of the spine; and back flexion, in which the spine bends forward.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple “tender points,” particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Additional symptoms may include sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, and anxiety.

Spondylitis refers to chronic back pain and stiffness caused by a severe infection to or inflammation of the spinal joints. Other painful inflammations in the lower back include osteomyelitis (infection in the bones of the spine) and sacroiliitis (inflammation in the sacroiliac joints).

Spondylolisthesis
Degenerative changes in the spine are often referred to those that cause the loss of normal structure and/or function. Degenerative Spondylolisthesis (DS) is a disorder that causes the forward motion (slip) of one vertebral body over the one below. The term Spondylolisthesis is formed from two Greek words; spondylo meaning vertebra and olisthesis meaning to slide on an incline. DS is most common in the lumbar spine (L4-L5) and may cause low back pain.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain syndrome with two forms. CRPS 1 currently replaces the term "reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome". It is a chronic nerve disorder that occurs most often in the arms or legs after a minor or major injury.

CRPS 1 is associated with severe pain; changes in the nails, bone, and skin; and an increased sensitivity to touch in the affected limb. CRPS 2 replaces the term causalgia, and results from an identified injury to the nerve.