Common causes of Low Back Pain (Lumbar Backache) include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Each of these is reviewed below.
1. Lumbar strain
Sprains and strains imply stretching or tearing of the tissue involved, either muscles (strain) or ligaments (sprain). (For more detailed information, please refer to this article)
2. Nerve irritation
The nerves of the lumbar spine can be irritated by mechanical pressure (impingement) by bone or other tissues, or from disease, anywhere along their paths -- from their roots at the spinal cord to the skin surface. These conditions include lumbar disc disease , bony encroachment, and inflammation of the nerves caused by a viral infection (shingles).
3. Lumbar radiculopathy
Lumbar radiculopathy is nerve irritation that is caused by damage to the discs between the vertebrae. Damage to the disc occurs because of degeneration ("wear and tear") of the outer ring of the disc, traumatic injury, or both.
4.Bony encroachment
Any condition that results in movement or growth of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine can limit the space (encroachment) for the adjacent spinal cord and nerves. Causes of bony encroachment of the spinal nerves include foraminal narrowing (narrowing of the portal through which the spinal nerve passes from the spinal column, out of the spinal canal to the body, commonly as a result of arthritis), spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra relative to another), and spinal stenosis (compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or other soft tissues in the spinal canal).
5. Bone and joint conditions
Bone and joint conditions that lead to Low Back Pain include those existing from birth (congenital), those that result from wear and tear (degenerative) or injury, and those that are due to inflammation of the joints (arthritis).
6. Other causes of Low Back Pain include kidney problems, pregnancy, ovary problems, and tumors.
Traditional Chinese medicine theory :Waist is the house of kidneys and the kidney meridian go through the spine. It indicates the close relationship of low back pain and kidney, and waist meridian, tendons, choroid lesions may also cause low back pain. There are three types low back pain in TCM.
1. Cold-damp lumbago
It is usually because people exposure in cold conditions after sweating , so that blood and Qi are blocked in low back.
2. Muscular strain lumbago
It dues to lumbar muscle sprain, bruise or impact injury , resulting in meridian damaged, and causing Qi and blood run obstructed.
3. Lumbago due to kidney-asthenia
Chronic illness or old and feeble, or frequent sex, and consumption of energy, would cause kidney Qi deficiency.
Acupuncture is a really go way to dredge the block. One of the theory of TCM is “Block Cause Pain” and “Unobstructed No Pain”. After removing the block, most patient would feel relax right away and after drinking warm water and hot shower they would feel much better. The third kind patients whose treatments have to combine acupuncture and herbal therapy. Their kidneys need to be strengthened first.
