A growing body of research suggests that women are more susceptible to lower back pain than men. This is due to hormonal changes, childbearing, and weight gain that women experience in their lifecycle.
Stem Cell Carolina, a regenerative stem cell therapy practice in Charlotte, encourages women to learn about the causes of lower back pain and seek non-invasive solutions.
In this article, we review four causes of lower back pain in women and how to treat them.
4 Causes of Lower Back Pain in Women
If you’re a woman and experiencing lower back pain, it may be caused by one of the following;
Facet Arthritis
When the cartilage at the end of the joints wears out and thins, facet arthritis occurs. This can lead to bone spurs and enlargement of the joints. Facet arthritis can cause pain and stiffness. Pain from lumbar facet arthritis may move down toward the buttock, hip, and thigh. The pain is often worse after certain movements or following inactivity or sleep.
Do you feel pain in your low back?
Book a free consultation with Dr. Ahmad, the lead physician at Stem Cell Carolina.
Lumbar Disk Disease
The lumbar spine has five bony segments in the lower back where lumbar disk disease may occur. Lumbar disk disease is caused by a change in the disk structure. This may be the result of aging, injury, or normal breakdown in the disk.
Problems may include a bulging disk or a herniated disk. When the intervertebral disk loses fluid and dries out, the spongy disk between the bony parts becomes compressed. This causes the tough outer ring to break down and allows the inner part to bulge out leading to a bulging disk.
If the disk continues to deteriorate, the inner nucleus pulposus can rupture causing a herniated disc. Fragments of disk material can press on the nerves causing pain, weakness, numbness, or changes in sensation.
Ligament Sprain
Ligaments are the fibrous bands of tissue that connect bones at a joint and prevent excess movement of that joint. If the ligaments are stretched too far or if they tear, it causes a ligament sprain.
Back sprain and strain are common injuries. A sprain is often the result of a fall, twist, or blow to the body that causes the joint to move out of its normal position. Symptoms may include pain that worsens with movement, muscle cramping, and decreased range of motion in the joint.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain/Arthritis
An estimated 15-30% of low back pain is caused by problems that originate in the sacroiliac joint. The sacrum is the wedge-shaped bone that the lumbar vertebrae rest upon. On either side, a sacroiliac joint attaches it to the pelvic bone. These joints are a common target for various types of arthritis.
Sacroiliac joint pain may include pain or discomfort in the low back, buttocks, hips, groin, and thighs. Arthritis within the SI joint can cause painful inflammation known as sacroiliitis. Additionally, SI pain may be caused by an injury, pregnancy, repetitive stress on the joint, or prolonged standing or sitting.
How to fix lower back pain
Exercise
At face value, this sounds counterproductive, but it is one of the best ways to deal with lower back pain. Exercise is the cornerstone of any non-invasive back pain treatment, and it is effective. To get the best result from exercise, consult your physician or spine physical therapist for guidance.
When done correctly, exercise will help strengthen the muscles around the sore areas in your back, thereby bringing relief. Again, it is crucial to consult an expert before exercising to avoid overexertion or wrong movements that will worsen your back pain.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy can help treat chronic low back, knee, shoulder, and hip conditions through natural and non-invasive procedures. Stem cell therapy stimulates tissue regeneration to repair damaged tissues. The outcome of this treatment is natural healing of your joints and trouble spots.
PRP Therapy
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy involves using the patient’s own blood which has been spun to produce a high concentration of platelets. Platelets have significant potential to improve healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The growth factors may also speed healing and improve tissue repair. PRP therapy effectively treats ligament and tendon injuries as well as cases of osteoarthritis.
Conclusion
Dealing with lower back pain can be difficult, especially when you do not know the cause. Consequently, the best way to treat or manage lower back pain is to identify the cause.
At Stem Cell Carolina, we provide diagnosis and treatment for lower back pain. Our stem cell and PRP therapy procedures are non-invasive. The procedures simply direct your body’s resources to accelerate the healing of injured joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Due to proximity, we serve residents of Charlotte, Monroe, and greater North Carolina. Book an appointment to see if you’re suitable for stem cell therapy.
