Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)

Lumbar facet joint pain and arthritis are conditions that involve the small joints located at the back of the spine, called facet joints. These joints provide flexibility and stability to your lower back. 

Lumbar facet joint pain and arthritis can be caused by wear and tear over time, leading to cartilage breakdown within the facet joints. This can contribute to the growth of bone spurs and enlargement of the joints. Your facet joints may become inflamed due to repetitive stress, injury, or conditions like osteoarthritis. 

The supraspinous ligament runs along the top of the back of vertebra L1 to L3, while the interspinous ligament runs between each vertebra. Both ligaments limit forward bending. A lumbar supraspinous or interspinous ligament sprain refers to an injury to these ligaments caused by aging, wear and tear, trauma, repetitive strain, or poor posture. 

A low back muscle strain, often called lumbar paraspinal muscle strain, is a common injury involving the muscles that support the lower back. Lumbar muscles work together with the abdominal muscles to move the trunk area and lower back. Along with the ligaments, muscles provide strength and stability to the lower back and allow forward, backward, and rotary movements. 

Strains can be caused by sudden movements or activities that overstress the muscles, weakness or imbalance between the muscles, and sports activities that involve repetitive or strenuous movements.

Lumbar radiculopathy involves pain, numbness, or tingling that runs down a leg due to a pinched nerve in the lower back. The referral pattern down the leg can vary based on which nerve root is affected. The nerve roots may be pinched due to a herniated disc, degenerative disease, bone spurs, or trauma. The L4 through S1 nerve roots are most commonly involved. Symptoms along these nerve roots, which often travel along the outside or back of your leg, are commonly referred to as sciatica.  

Though sciatica–like symptoms are most commonly due to a pinched nerve in the low back, they can also be due to the sciatic nerve itself becoming pinched in the buttock region.  

Lumbar disc herniation, often called a slipped disc, is a common condition in which the soft inner core of a spinal disc protrudes through the tough outer layer. It can result from aging-related wear and tear called disc degeneration. Activities or occupations involving heavy lifting, bending, twisting, and trauma can also cause lumbar disc herniation.

Lumbar disc degeneration refers to the natural wear and tear that occurs in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine over time. Though these changes can be a part of “normal aging,” they can also be a source of significant pain.  

An annular disc tear is a condition in which the tough outer layer of an intervertebral disc, known as the annulus fibrosus, is torn or disrupted, but no disc material is ruptured. This outer layer surrounds and encases the softer inner core of the disc, called the nucleus pulposus.

A thoracolumbar fascia strain refers to an injury involving the fascia that spans the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. The thoracolumbar fascia is a dense connective tissue that provides support and stability to the muscles and structures in the lower and middle back. 

Many of the muscle groups that are located in the hips, core abdominal wall, and around the shoulder blades (scapulae) rely on the thoracolumbar fascia being intact in order for the muscle to be able to activate.  

Sacroiliac dysfunction refers to pain and discomfort arising from the sacroiliac joints and ligaments. The sacroiliac joints are located at the back of the pelvis, just above the buttock region. Sacroiliac dysfunction can be caused by trauma or injury, hormonal changes and increased joint laxity during pregnancy, degenerative conditions, weakness or imbalance in the muscles, and gait abnormalities. The ligaments that support the sacroiliac joints can become sprained, contributing to sacroiliac dysfunction.

The sacroiliac joints can develop osteoarthritis, a painful, degenerative condition due to wear and tear. It may cause pain and stiffness in the buttocks or lower back, and the pain may radiate into one or both legs. 

Iliolumbar ligament sprains involve injury or overstretching of the iliolumbar ligament. This ligament helps stabilize your lumbosacral spine, consisting of the lumbar spine and sacrum. Iliolumbar ligament sprains are caused by trauma, repetitive strain, improper lifting techniques, or poor posture.