Lower Right Back Pain

Lower Right Back Pain: Possible Causes
One of the most common complaints medical doctors hear from patients is back pain. This can be due to a number of reasons including strained muscles, bad posture or even arthritis. Suffering from back pain is not really unusual as the back is quite susceptible to injury primarily because it bears the upper body’s weight and is actually responsible for more movements. Because of the constant movement, the parts are more susceptible to wear and tear.

On the other hand, if the back pain is localized at the lower right area, it could be a sign of a much more serious health condition. Among them are:

Lumbar Strain

It is very likely the cause of the lower right back pain is tearing or pulling or any of the ligaments, muscles or tendons located at the said area. You will be surprised to know that even a microscopic tear can cause muscle spasm and trigger inflammation, which could worsen the pain. Lumbar strain can be due to lifting objects incorrectly or hurting your back from athletic activity.

Usually, the pain can go away after strengthening exercises but a trip to a doctor or chiropractor might be needed. In any case, you should limit activity involving your lower right back. Alternate cold and hot compress is also advisable to relieve swelling and stimulate blood flow.

Sciatica

Lower right back pain can be caused by a problem with your sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the human body running from the spinal cord to the back of the legs. You need to understand sciatica is actually a symptom of a much more serious nerve-related problem like herniated disk.

Symptoms of sciatica include muscle weakness, numbness and pain from lower back to the buttocks to the back of the calf. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, prescription drugs (anti-inflammatory medications), steroid injections and even surgery for severe cases.

Herniated Disc

Also referred to as ruptured disc or slipped disc, herniated disc involves the soft tissues between the spine’s vertebrae which work to provide cushions and offer flexibility. When the soft jelly inside these discs is pushed out, it can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain. Aside from lower right back pain, a person can also experience weakness or numbness. Treatment usually involves narcotics, pain medications, muscle relaxers and cortisone injections. Physical therapists can also teach positions which will minimize lower right back pain caused by the herniated disc. For severe pain, surgery is an option.

Kidney Stones

Another possible reason for your lower right back pain is the presence of kidney stones. Made with acid salts and minerals which crystallized together, kidney stones can be quite painful if they are passing through the bladder.

Small kidney stones do not usually require invasive treatment. In many cases, drinking water can easily flush out these crystals. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you can always take pain medication until such time the stones have passed. Your doctor can also prescribe certain medications to relax the ureter muscles.

On the other hand, large kidney stones can cause much pain, bleeding and even kidney damage especially if they are too large to pass. More invasive medical treatment might be required including Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy and surgery (nephrolithotomy).

Kidney Infection

Lower right back pain can also be brought about by kidney infection, a type of urinary type infection involving the area from the urethra to the kidneys. It is important to treat this particular infection as it can lead to more permanent kidney damage.

Infection of the kidney can be due to bacteria entering the urinary tract via urine. First line of treatment is usually with antibiotics but severe cases might require hospitalization. Some individuals suffer from recurrent kidney infection and should consult a kidney specialist to determine the cause of the recurrence.

Other possible causes:

• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal deformities
• Fractures
• Spondylolisthesis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Spinal tumors
• Bacterial infection

Prevention

For lower right back pain caused by muscle strain, it is important that you keep the muscles in the area strong. You can accomplish this by engaging in back-strengthening exercises. Of course, a good posture helps as well. It would be better to avoid heavy lifting too as this is seen as one of the common reasons for having back pain. Keeping a healthy diet that is rich in protein, wearing flat, well-cushioned shoes and losing weight should also be considered to avoid unnecessary toll on the lower back

Medical conditions which list lower right back pain as a symptom should be identified as early as possible. Most of the time, the pain is indicative of something more serious and getting it checked will not only stop the pain but treat it as well.