Lower Back Pain While Bending Over – Causes & Treatments

Lower back pain while bending over is another complaint I hear from most patients. In that case, firstly, as a doctor, I try to understand the root cause of this pain.

When a person bends, it puts pressure on the lower back. In my medical history, I have seen various causes of lower back pain while bending over.

Causes Of The Lower Back Pain While Bending Over

Sometimes it’s can be due to muscle stress or due to some serious back injury. It can be a sign of any unstable medical condition.

Some major reasons affect the spine and can cause lower back pain while bending over.

1. Lower Back Strain/Stress:

When a person bends, it puts pressure on the lower back. It causes lower back stress. It is one of the main and most common causes of lower back pain while bending over.

– Pain in the lower back

– Difficulty keeping a straight posture

– An inadequate range of motion

These are the most common symptoms of lower back strain. 

Treatments:

The treatments for lower back pain include;

– Stretching

– A little exercise for better blood flow

– Physical therapy or massage

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

– Try electric muscle stimulus therapies

2. Herniated Disc:

A herniated disc happens when its soft middle point impulses through a gap in the tougher outer. There are many discs around the spine in our back. . These discs act as shockwave absorbers.

Shockwave absorbers help to stable the back. The herniated disc removes from its place. This replacement inserts some extra pressure on the nerves around it.

When someone suffers from a herniated disc, they’ll experience weakness in one leg or both.

Treatments:

The treatments for herniated discs include;

– Steroid injections can help in releasing inflammation

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

– People with serious conditions may need surgical interference

– A little exercise for better blood flow

– Physical therapy or massage

3. Sciatica:

Herniated disc also causes sciatica. The herniated disc presses some pressure on the sciatica nerve in the lower spine.

It causes burning or serious pain from the lower back to one or both legs. People with sciatica will feel discomfort in the hips, buttocks, or down into the legs. They may lose control of their bladder. 

Treatments:

The treatments for sciatica include;

– Non-surgical treatments such as ice and heat massage

– Gentle stretching

– Little exercise for pain relief

– Surgery to remove the disc, which is putting pressure on the nerve

– Physical therapy

4. Spondylolysis:

Spondylolysis is the condition in which a patient has a fracture in the spinal vertebra. It most commonly happens in younger athletes. 

Having difficulty maintaining a straight posture and pain in the buttocks are sign of Spondylolysis.

Treatments:

The treatments for spondylolysis include;

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

– Use of a back brace can be helpful

– Little exercise for better blood flow 

– Physical therapy or massage

– People with serious conditions may need surgical interference

5. Arthritis:

Arthritis causes lower back pain while bending over. This condition can be seen in people over the age of 55 years. People with arthritis may also suffer from osteoarthritis and arthritis.

In our body, our joints are secured by cartilage. When this cartilage weakens, bones start to rub with each other. It causes pain in the lower back.

Treatment:

The treatments for arthritis include;

– A little exercise for better blood flow 

– Joint protection

– Physical therapy or massage 

– Occupational therapy

– Necessary Medications

– People with serious conditions may need surgical interference

6. Ankylosing Spondylitis:

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the spine. It causes sharp lower back pain while bending.

If someone notices stiffness while bending down, they may have this medical condition.

Treatments:

The treatments for ankylosing spondylitis include;

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

– In some cases, doctors may recommend tumor necrosis factor blockers

– A little exercise for better blood flow 

– Physical therapy or massage

– Maybe some people need surgical interference

7. Strained Muscle:

Strained muscles can be seen in people who have problems with torn muscles. Torn muscles can cause pain in the lower back. Muscles in our body should be relaxed and strong.

It can be caused due to any physical movement or lack of flexibility. Stretching can make it better. Stretching relaxed and flexible the muscles.

Treatments:

The treatments for strained muscle include;

– The easy way to reduce this pain is to apply ice as soon as you feel any stress or pain in your lower back. Even if you feel pain after doing any physical activity.

– After icing, apply heat massage

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

8. Coccydynia:

Pain in the tailbone normally happens due to any trauma. It can become long-lasting and devastating.

Early symptoms include serious pain while sitting down or bending on a hard surface.

Treatment :

The treatments for coccydynia include;

– Resting your back for some time can help in deducting the pain

– Little exercise

– Physical therapy or massage

When To Consult A Physician

I recommend patients consult the physician as soon as they cannot move any muscle in lower extremes. Also, when they feel like they are losing control of their bladder.

These are the symptoms of unstable medical conditions.

– If your back pain doesn’t get better after 2 weeks, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

– Consult a doctor when you have lower back pain while doing any physical activity.

– Doctors can help identify the pain and guide further for better treatment options.

Tips To Avoid Lower Back Pain While Bending Over

Everyone should follow these tips to reduce pain and live stress-free lives. Improve your quality of life and enjoy your everyday routine to its fullest.

These tips also help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Healthy Diet:

Adopt a healthy diet in your life.  Consumption of healthy food reduces the chance of stress on your body. Unhealthy food increases the chances of back problems.

Try to avoid the increased intake of alcohol and large meals.

2. Exercise:

Exercise on daily bases reduces the chance of lower back pain. Exercise keeps the muscles and bones active. It helps the blood to flow properly in the body. 

Through exercise, you can lose weight, which is a major cause of lower back pain.

3. Sustain Proper Posture:

People who spend long hours on a computer while working face lower back pain more often. Those people should correct their sitting positions. They should buy a comfortable chair which supports their back.

They should practice stretching exercises while sitting. They should take a rest after some work.

4. Quit Smoking:

Smoking can cause severe lower back pain. It increases the risk of less oxygen because it narrows the blood vessels. It reduces the blood flow in the body.

Blood flow should be fluent so that it can circulate in the body. Proper blood flow also prevent other unstable medical conditions.

5. Try To Sleep Sideways:

Sleeping flat on our back cause lower back pain. It puts pressure on the lower back. Try to sleep on your sides one by one.

Place a pillow under your lower abdomen; it helps in preventing pressure on lower back pain.

6. Reduce Stress:

Having stress can also cause pressure on muscles. It puts strain on muscles in the body. Adopt relaxing exercises like yoga, deep breathing, or exercise that can reduce stress.

Stress reduction is necessary for the relief of any pain in your body. Relaxation of muscles is important in pain reduction.

7. Get A Hot Or Cold Massage:

Cold and heat massage helps a lot in reducing lower back pain. Follow a proper order recommended by your physician according to your condition.

8. Try Acupuncture:

Acupuncture is a Chinese practice that is an exercise to reduce lower back pain. Some tiny needles are inserted into the patient’s body during this process.  It restores blood flow in the body.

Better blood flow makes the muscles and body work effectively.

Ways To Diagnose Serious Lower Back Pain

If you don’t feel improvement after physical therapy, consult your doctor and get medication.

There are certain ways to diagnose the pain level and where the problem is.

1. X-Rays:

Through X-rays, one can know the exact location of the problem. X-rays help the doctor give treatment according to the area and pain.

Different types of pain need different treatments and exercises. X-rays have made it effortless for doctors.

2. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

MRI produces powerful 3 Dimensional images of the body. These 3D images show the nerve roots and spinal cord. It helps in the detection of tumors and degenerations.

It is the most advanced level for identifying pain or damage in your body.

Conclusion

Lower back pain while bending over is a serious medical condition. In some cases, exercise can cure the pain. In severe cases, it needs full medication and consultancy.

Lower back pain while bending over is a serious medical condition. In some cases, exercise can cure the pain. In severe cases, it needs full medication and consultancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Bend Over?

When a person bends over, it increases the stress/pressure on the lower back. Due to this pressure, people face lower back pain. It creates a strained muscle in the lower back.

Try to do exercise. It can reduce the pressure on muscles and keep the blood flowing properly.

2. How Can I Avoid Lower Back Pain While Bending Over?

One should keep the body in proper shape to avoid lower back pain while bending over. Being overweight can also cause pain in the lower back.

Doing different kinds of exercise and stretching can keep the body active.

3. Can Chiropractic Help Lower Back Pain While Bending Over?

Lower back pain can be a serious unstable medical condition. Identification at the initial stage can reduce the risk of severe medical conditions.

Proper chiropractic care can cure the underlying medical condition in a short time.