Do you suffer from lower back pain when sitting or bending?It affects 80% of adults at some point in their lives. In this article, we will discuss some details about the causes and treatment method. 

What causes lower back pain when bending?

Lower back pain when sitting and bending greatly affects a person's performance in his daily activities, and statistics have shown that 80% of adults suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. 

Of these, only 30% resort to medical care and consultation with a doctor, while others remain dependent on pain-relieving medications. 

The main reason for feeling lower back pain when bending is pressure on the discs responsible for protecting the spine, and some other reasons For example:

• Wrong daily habits

Sitting in a certain position for long periods while working puts pressure on the buttocks and hip muscles and causes pain. 

Doing strenuous work that requires constant lifting of weights at work puts pressure on the back vertebrae, causing constant pain. 

Wrong postures during sleep also lead to muscle stiffness and pain appears in the morning upon waking up. 

Also, when performing some sporting activities that use the back and torso incorrectly, this puts pressure on the back muscles and weakens them. 

• Herniated disc

The most prominent symptom of a herniated disc is lower back pain when sitting and bending. 

• Muscle tension

It is a common cause of feeling With lower back pain While bending, the pain may involve the lower back and legs together, and the pain usually disappears gradually within weeks or a month. 

• Degenerative disc disease

It is one of the most common causes of back pain in the elderly, as the discs between the vertebrae of the lower part of the spine are damaged, and the pain increases when bending or sitting. 

What are the symptoms of lower back pain when sitting?

Considering the symptoms of lower back pain when sitting, they are many and varied in severity. They include a tingling or numbness feeling in the legs, or acute pain that radiates to the legs or buttocks. The intensity of the pain can increase when moving or when bending. The pain can be accompanied by difficulty standing or walking, in addition to stiffness in the muscles and loss of strength in the legs. In some cases, the pain can extend to the arms or neck. Symptoms also vary in severity depending on the cause behind the pain. This is why it is important to consult a doctor to diagnose the condition so that he can determine the treatment.

Lower back pain when sitting

Causes of lower back pain when sitting include causes of pain when bending, but there are  some diseases that are characterized by lower back pain only when sitting, for example:

• Sciatica

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which connects the lower part of the spine to the legs. This causes a feeling of dull pain or something similar to an electric shock, and the pain occurs when sitting on one side of the body. 

• Herniated disc

A disc occurs as a result of pressure on the spine and surrounding nerves, causing pain while sitting. 

• Slipped vertebrae

It is when one of the spinal vertebrae slips out of place. This puts pressure on the nerves adjacent to the vertebra, causing pain when sitting. 

• Spinal stenosis

This happens when the hollow tubes in the spinal bones put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain that increases in intensity when sitting. 

Read also:What are the causes of lower back pain?

What causes lower back pain above the buttocks?

The causes of lower back pain above the buttocks are divided into factors related to back problems and factors related to problems in the glutes. 

Causes of pain in the glutes include:

• Bursitis

A bursa is a small sac of fluid located between two bones to prevent friction. 

When the bursa becomes inflamed as a result of sitting for long periods or being exposed to an accident, this leads to pain in the buttocks, especially when sitting. 

• Piriformis syndrome

It is a muscle located in the buttocks. When inflammation of the piriformis muscle occurs as a result of irritation of the sciatic nerve, this leads to feeling pain in the buttocks that increases in intensity when sitting or climbing the stairs. 

• Herniated disc between the vertebrae in the back

Obesity and improper lifting of weights are among the causes responsible for herniated disc in the buttocks. 

The affected disc puts pressure on the nerves surrounding it in the buttocks area, causing pain and numbness in the buttocks. 

• Bruised buttocks

As a result of exposure to any accident or injury resulting from inappropriate exercise, the blood vessels under the skin are exposed to damage, leading to swelling of the buttocks muscles and a feeling of pain. 

• Sciatica

Feeling lower back pain when sitting and bending over the buttocks on one side of the body, and it affects women and men as a result of irritation of the sciatic nerve. 

Read also: What are the benefits of physical therapy for the back?

Lower back pain when pregnant women sit and bend

The occurrence of lower back pain when pregnant women sit and bend is due to the following reasons:

• Excess weight during pregnancy. 
• The ligaments in the pelvic area and spine relax as a result of hormonal changes and the production of the hormone relaxin during pregnancy. 
• Separation of the rectus abdominis muscles occurs as a result of the expansion of the uterus during pregnancy in some cases. 
• In some cases, it is an early sign of pregnancy. 
• Nervous stress and tension during pregnancy increase muscle tension, causing lower back pain. 
• Stress with increased weight and pressure on the lower back vertebrae leads to increased pain in the lower back when sitting and bending. 

Treating lower back pain when sitting and bending 

Treatment depends Lower back pain On the cause of the pain. If the pain is the result of wrong daily habits, there are some solutions that will help, for example:

•  Establishing a daily routine helps stimulate blood circulation and muscles if work requires sitting a lot. 
• If the pain is the result of stress and hard work, the treatment is complete rest, and within a week this pain will end. 
• Do some simple exercises such as walking and yoga. 
• Using cold and warm compresses to increase blood flow in the lower back and reduce inflammation. 

If the pain is persistent and home treatments do not work, you must visit a doctor to diagnose the cause of the pain and perform the necessary tests. 

What are the symptoms of a disc in the back?

A herniated disc or disc occurs as a result of intense pressure on the disc between the vertebrae, causing the disc to slip out of its place, putting pressure on the nerve roots in that area. 

Disc symptoms vary depending on the location of the herniated disc, and back disc symptoms include pain characterized by:

• It is the lower back, buttocks and thighs. 
• It comes and goes, and is most severe when sitting and lessens when walking and moving. 
• Prevents the patient from bending, twisting or lifting. 
• It improves when changing the sitting or lying position. 
• Feeling numbness or tingling in the legs. 

When is back pain serious?

Back pain is serious in the following cases:

• Acute severe pain: It indicates a tear in the muscles or ligaments. 
• Pain that moves from one place to another: As the pain moves from the lower back to the legs, this indicates a problem with the nerve. 
• Sudden weakness in the legs: This occurs when you suffer from spinal stenosis or sciatica as a result of nerve compression in the spine. 
• incontinence: Where the patient loses the ability to control the bladder; 
• Rectal anesthesia: This is in the case of serious injuries to the spine and nerves. 
• Weak legs with urinary incontinence: The presence of these two symptoms together indicates damage to the spinal cord. 

Home remedies to relieve lower back pain when sitting

There are many home remedies that help relieve lower back pain when sitting. They do not treat the pain but only relieve it, but it is important to consult a doctor to determine the main cause of the pain and develop an appropriate treatment plan. The most prominent of these treatments is getting adequate rest, while placing warm or cold compresses on the area affected by pain. Also, practicing light exercises such as yoga with relaxation and deep breathing techniques has a major role in alleviating lower back pain when sitting. It is also necessary to maintain the correct sitting position and use various pain relievers.

Book your consultation now at Orthopedic center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital

Frequently asked questions

How to get rid of lower back pain quickly?

To relieve lower back pain, you can try some useful home solutions in this regard, most notably applying warm or cold compresses to the painful area, getting adequate rest while avoiding activities that increase the pain, and doing light exercises, in addition to sleeping on your back and taking mild pain relievers. It is worth noting the necessity of consulting a doctor to treat the problem, especially if the pain persists or gets worse, so that the doctor determines the appropriate treatment for the patient to get rid of the problem.

What is the best medicine for lower back pain?

There is no medication for lower back pain that can be said to be the best for all cases of lower back pain. The optimal treatment depends on many factors, including the cause of the pain, the severity of the pain, the duration of the pain, and the patient’s general health condition. In general, the doctor prescribes to the patient some medications that are necessary to relieve lower back pain, including pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants that help relieve muscle spasms. The doctor also recommends some other treatments such as physical therapy and natural injections.

What is the cause of back pain when bending?

Back pain when bending over can be due to a number of different reasons, including muscle strain resulting from lifting weights incorrectly or strenuous exercise, or due to problems in the spine such as a herniated disc or arthritis. The pain can be caused by incorrect sitting or standing positions for long periods of time, or due to some diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis. This is why it is important to have an accurate diagnosis by the treating physician to determine the appropriate treatment.

In conclusion, early detection and diagnosis are very useful in avoiding deterioration of health condition and increased pain. 

If you suffer from symptoms of lower back pain when sitting and bending, you can Book a consultation immediately at Al Mousa Hospital. 

We provide excellent care with the latest advanced devices and methods, and for more information about the available treatment methods, you should contact us.

Sources and references

Why Does My Lower Back Hurt – healthline

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons – orthoinfo