When pain appears on one side of the lower back it is usually associated with a muscle injury, but sometimes the discomfort can be an alarm signal warning of a problem with an internal organ. What causes pain on the right side of the lower back? Read on to find out!
Pain in the lower back is a symptom common to several pathologies, for example, endometriosis, appendicitis and kidney conditions. This is because some internal organs share nerve roots with the soft tissues and ligaments in the back, which is why the pain can appear in that area.
However, in this article we are going to focus on the main causes of low back pain that are related to the spine. It is worth mentioning that the fact that the pain originates on the right side is random; it has no particular significance with respect to pain that appears on the left side.
Injury to the muscles
This is the most common cause of lower back pain. It is very likely that you have heard about this type of pain, referred to as lumbago. In most patients, this pain appears due to circumstances such as muscle tension caused by poor posture. In addition, this pain can also be the result of lifting heavy objects incorrectly.
Muscle soreness tends to involve specific muscles, and discomfort begins during, or just after performing a specific activity. Among the main causes that trigger muscle problems are the following:
- Injury, trauma and muscle strain
- Overload: over-exercising the lumbar muscle without warming up, or exercising it too often
- Tension or stress
It is important to know when this symptom is a sign that you should see a specialist, because although the pain might be short-term, it is also possible that it will continue and increase. We recommend that you consult a spine specialist if your symptoms include any of the following:
- Muscle pain that lasts for more than three days and is becoming more intense.
- You have a fever or do not feel well in general.
- Muscle pain that appeared after starting or changing the dose of a medication.
Wear on intervertebral discs
The intervertebral disc functions as a shock absorber between the vertebrae. This gives the spine stability and at the same time, allows for movement. When discs lose their water content, they become more fragile and less flexible; and that's when the pain usually appears. This pain can tend to get worse when the person is sitting.
The pain gets worse when sitting, because in this position, the lumbosacral discs support three times more weight than when the person is standing. In contrast, when the pain is mechanical, related to the muscles rather than disc deterioration, it would be relieved when the person is resting.
Among the signs that should alert a patient that they need immediate attention, are the following:
- The pain gets worse as the days go by.
- The pain keeps you from doing various activities.
- You feel weakness, pain, numbness, or tingling in your legs.
- Loss of sphincter control.
Back pain might be something else other than just a sign of aging. In order to determine the right treatment, it is necessary to be certain what the cause is. For this reason, the right treatment can vary from person to person.
Lumbar instability: one of the most frequent causes of back pain
How can you prevent and relieve lower right back pain?
The treatment that the specialist chooses will depend on the specific cause of the pain. For this reason, we recommend that you seek medical advice whenever intense pain appears in this area that interferes with your ability to carry out your daily activities.
It is good to know, however, that in many cases lower back pain can be controlled with simple treatment options and some small changes to lifestyle:
- Apply ice or heat to the affected area for 30 minutes. Do this, every 3 hours to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Use correct posture when lifting objects: crouch, squat, and keep the weight close to your chest.
- Spend a few minutes every day stretching out tight muscles.
Exercises to relieve and prevent low back pain
Low back pain in the morning
Have you had the experience of waking up in the morning with your body feeling stiff? Some patients say that they wake up with so much pain in the lower back that they cannot even stand up straight. It is normal for people who have osteoarthritis or arthritis to feel this way when they get up in the morning, but if that is not your case, try checking your bed, mattress and pillow.
A stiff back and sharp pain when you get out of bed or stand up are symptoms of muscle tension. This is a sign that your mattress is holding your spine in an incorrect position and your muscles are contracting in an effort to correct that posture. So, we invite you to check your sleeping equipment:
- Check to see if your mattress is deformed: this is more common than you might imagine. To check this, take the mattress off the bed, turn it over and lay it flat on the floor. If you see that parts of it do not touch the floor, it means that the mattress is deformed.
- Check the firmness of the mattress: your mattress should be adaptable, never excessively firm. There are studies that have shown the effectiveness of mattresses of intermediate firmness; these maintain the normal curvatures of the back and avoid excessive muscle strain.
- Make sure the mattress keeps your back straight: this means to check if your spine stays straight when you’re lying on your back or your side.
Get in touch with our specialists and find relief from back pain
Categories: Spine treatments, Spine pathologies, Rehabilitation