8 Back Pain Conditions That Women Suffer From Most

8 Back Pain Conditions That Women Suffer From

There are a number of back pain-related conditions that women are more susceptible to developing.
Additionally, back pain for women is more likely to become chronic over time.
Back pain-related issues are typically seen in the post-menopausal phase.

1. Sciatica

Sciatica pain is caused by pinching, inflammation or compression of a nerve in the lower back, the longest nerve in your body.
This sciatica nerve that travels from the lower spine through the buttocks and down the back of the legs.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Depending on its cause sciatica pain can be described in different ways.

Pain can be sharp, shooting, jolting, burning, electric or stabbing.
The pain can be continuous or every now and again and is usually more intense in your leg compared to your lower back.
The pain may feel worse if when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
The pain can be worsened by a sudden movement, such as a cough or sneeze.
Pain in the lower back, buttock and down the back of the leg.
A feeling of numbness in the lower back, buttock, leg or feet.
A “pins and needles” feeling all the way down your legs into your toes and feet

Treatment of Sciatica

Limited bed rest of 3 days is often recommended but should not be extended beyond that.
It is important to have a firm mattress or you could even sleep on the floor.
Taking over-the-counter medicines to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Hot and cold packs applied for several minutes to the lower back, repeated a few times per day.
Cold packs should be applied first for a few days, then replaced with hot packs.
Exercises such as short walks can help reduce inflammation.
It’s important to observe your posture while exercising.
Physical therapy to help set out a stretching and exercise routine as well as helping to improve your posture to take pressure off the sciatic nerve.
Lower-back stretches can help relieve your sciatica pain.
Prescription medications such as relaxants to relieve the discomfort associated with muscle spasms.
Spinal injections such as an anti-inflammatory into the lower back might help reduce the pain and swelling around the affected nerve roots.
Alternative therapies can include spine manipulation, yoga, or acupuncture.
Massage can also help with muscle spasms that often occur along with sciatica.
Surgery involves spinal surgery and is not usually recommended unless your symptoms have not improved with other treatment methods.

2. Herniated or slipped disc

A slipped disc can happen in any part of your spine, all the way from your neck to your lower back, however, the lower back is one of the more common areas for slipped discs.
A herniated disc is when one of the discs that cushion your vertebrae gets compressed and bulges outwards and can eventually cause the disc to rupture.
A slipped disc can place extra pressure on the nerves and muscles around your spinal column.

Symptoms of a slipped disc include:

Pain and numbness, most often felt on one side of the body
Pain that extends to your arms or legs
Pain that worsens at night-time
Pain that worsens after standing or sitting or from sudden movement
Pain when walking short distances
Unexplained muscle weakness
A tingling, numbness or burning sensation

Treatment for slipped disc

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication
A herniated disc is frequently treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication if the pain is only mild to moderate.

Maintain a low, painless activity level
This helps the spinal nerve inflammation to decrease and can last a few days or a few weeks.
Your doctor should monitor your progress and bed rest is not recommended.

Epidural steroid injection
This procedure involves utilizing a spinal needle under X-ray guidance to direct the medication to the source of the pain.

Physical therapy
There are many physical therapies that can help, including pelvic traction, gentle massage, ice and heat therapy, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and stretching exercises.

Surgery
A doctor may recommend surgery if treatment options, such as physical therapy and medications, do not resolve the pain, but there is no guarantee that surgery will be 100% successful.

3. Disc degeneration

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of lower back and neck pain and is generally caused by wear and tear on the discs in your spine as you age.
It can however also be caused by injuries or repetitive motion and doesn’t always cause pain, but for some, it can be very painful.

Symptoms of disc degeneration

Symptoms depend on the location of the weak disk and other areas that it might affect.

Pain felt in your neck, lower back, buttocks, or upper thighs
Pain that comes and goes and can last from a few days to a few months
It feels worse when you sit, and better when you move and walk
It feels worse when you bend, lift, or twist and feels better when you change positions or lie down
It can lead to numbness and tingling in your arms and legs and can also weaken your leg muscles

Treatment of disc degeneration

Medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen can ease pain and reduce inflammation.
Stronger medication is also available but will require a prescription.
Physical therapy
You can strengthen the muscles in your neck and back and improve flexibility with specific movements that will help to support the spine.
Steroid shots
These are suitable for more severe and long-lasting pain and involve getting a shot in the epidural space in your back, or in your nerve or muscle.
Surgery
One procedure, called a discectomy, removes the injured part of the disk, thereby helping to take pressure off your nerves.
The whole disk can also be removed and replaced with an artificial one.

4. Piriformis syndrome

Pain originates from spasms in your piriformis muscle, a large muscle located deep in the buttock near the top of the hip joint.
The function of this muscle is to stabilize the hip joint and lift and rotate the thigh away from the body, enabling us to walk, shift our weight from one foot to another, and to maintain balance.
Due to hormone and pregnancy-related changes in the pelvis, women are more prone to this condition.

Symptoms of piriformis syndrome

Intense pain in the buttock and hip area that is worsened by hip movements
Pain is felt when getting out of bed
Inability to sit for a long time
Radiating pain that can be felt in the back of your thigh and leg

Prevention of piriformis syndrome

Remember to maintain a good posture while running, walking, or exercising
Avoid running or exercising on an incline or uneven surfaces
Warm up properly before exercising and gradually increase intensity
Avoid positions that trigger pain and stop the activity until pain subsides

Treatment of piriformis syndrome

Rest, ice, and heat may help relieve symptoms and pain.
The symptoms usually subside when you lie on your back
A program of exercises and stretches to help reduce spasms
Anti-inflammatory medications
Muscle relaxants
Injections with a corticosteroid or anesthetic
Iontophoresis treatment uses a mild electric current
Botox injections can possibly relieve muscle tightness and sciatic nerve compression to minimize pain
Surgery as a last resort if all other treatment options fail

5. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

This is one of the more common causes of lower back pain and is an inflammation of one or both of your sacroiliac joints, situated where your lower spine and pelvis connect.
This condition is more common in women than men because women typically have a smaller SI joint surface area and the sacrum is also wider and tilted more backward in women.
Pain can be felt in your buttocks or lower back and can extend down one or both legs and prolonged standing or stair climbing can worsen the pain.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is not preventable but you may be able to reduce symptoms by avoiding activities that cause the pain.

Symptoms of sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Lower back pain
Aches and pains directly over the buttock, which may occasionally flare up into a sharp pain
A sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain that is felt down your thigh
Pain that intensifies when you sit or lie on the affected side, and/or climb stairs

Treatment options for sacroiliitis include:

Rest is often recommended as initial treatment to help alleviate many of the symptoms
Alternating between cold and heat packs to relieve pain and inflammation
Taking over-the-counter pain medications
Physical therapy and exercise
Muscle relaxer to help with muscle spasms which are common
Injections of corticosteroids are administered directly into the joint
Electrical stimulation of the joint
Surgery for extreme cases where bones are fused together
Exercises such as Hip Flexion and Hip Adduction Isometric Hold

6. Spinal osteoarthritis

Spinal osteoarthritis is a wear and tear arthritis of the facet joints and is common in women, the risk of which increases with age and/or weight.
It causes a breakdown of the fibrous cartilage in the facet joints, resulting in your bones rubbing together, causing pain.

Symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis

Pain that is felt in your upper or lower back, groin, buttocks, and thighs
Back stiffness and pain in the morning when getting out of bed
The pain may occur on only one side of your back and increases if external pressure is applied

Treatment options for spinal osteoarthritis include

Initial treatment may include losing weight if needed and starting a regular exercise regime that includes swimming, walking, and water aerobics, strength training, aerobic and range-of-motion exercises
Initial period of rest is necessary but not recommended for long periods of time
Massage, acupuncture
Hot or cold compresses
Nutritional supplements
Controlling your blood sugar as high blood sugar levels increase your risk of getting OA
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, using a device that emits electrical pulses onto the affected area

7. Degenerative spondylolisthesis

This occurs when a vertebra in your spine slips over the one below it and is caused by degeneration, most commonly in post-menopausal women due to lower levels of estrogen.
A drop in estrogen increases the risk of degradation of the vertebral disc and the loosening of the ligaments that hold the vertebrae together, causing spinal instability.

Symptoms of degenerative spondylolisthesis

Some people do not experience any symptoms whatsoever and don’t even know that they have the condition.

Lower back pain which can extend to the buttocks and to your legs and thighs
Muscle spasms in the hamstrings
Back stiffness and pain when bending over
Uncomfortable when needing to stand or walk for long periods of time.
Tingling and numbness in the feet

Prevention and treatments for degenerative spondylolisthesis

Regular exercises to strengthen back and abdominal muscles
Follow a well-balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight and keep your bones well-nourished and strong
Taking a break from strenuous activities and sports
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication can bring relief
A steroid medication injection administered directly into the affected area
Physical therapy which involves targeted exercises to strengthen your abdomen and back
Surgery might be required if nonsurgical treatments are not successful

8. Coccydynia (tailbone pain)

The coccyx is a small triangular bone at the bottom of the spinal column, that can get bruised and even fractured.
This condition occurs more often in women due to the differences in the shape and angle of the pelvis and from injury during childbirth.
Sitting can increase the pain while walking relieves it.

An achy or piercing pain that is felt in the tailbone
Painful buttocks and back pain
More intense pain when changing from sitting to standing up and vice versa or when sitting for long periods of time
Pain during bowel movements
Pain during sex
Depression, anxiety
Poor sleep

Prevention and treatment of coccydynia

Avoiding activities that worsen the condition such as cycling and sitting for long periods of time.
Taking an anti-inflammatory
Avoiding sitting for long periods of time and leaning forward if you have to sit
Taking a hot bath can help to relax muscles and ease pain
Using a wedge-shaped gel cushion when sitting
Taking stool softeners to alleviate pain during bowel movements
Stretching and strengthening exercises for the muscles of your lower back and pelvis
Applying hot or cold packs to your lower back, several times a day
Massage therapy or acupuncture
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Surgery for extremely rare situations

Sources
healthline.com – lower back pain causes sciatica
wedmd.com – spinal osteoarthritis
webmd.com – piriformis syndrome
mayoclinic.org – sacroiliitis symptoms & causes
spine-health.com – back pain conditions
my.clevelandclinic.org – spondylolisthesis
my.clevelandclinic.org – coccydynia tailbone pain
my.clevelandclinic.org – sciatica
webmd.com – degenerative disk disease
aans.org – treatment herniated disc
webmd.com – treatment for sciatica

How Do You Prevent Bone Loss During Menopause?

According to the NHS, you can lose up to 20% of your bone mass during and post-menopause.
Estrogen is a bone protector that helps to keep your bones strong and stable.
When your estrogen falls, it can have a detrimental effect on calcium absorption to the bones.
Weight gain is another common symptom during menopause, unfortunately, this adds extra pressure on your bones.
Stress is another common symptom of menopause, which creates acidic chemicals in the body and these weaken our bones.

What can you do to help yourself?

You can’t totally stop bone loss but you can do certain things that will mitigate some of the effects and go a long way towards protecting them.
Weight-bearing exercise
Weight-bearing exercises, use your body weight to work against gravity. They include brisk walking, jogging, climbing stairs, playing tennis, and dancing, skipping, or running.
Resistance training
These include using weight or putting resistance between your muscles and your bones, therefore, helping the bones to strengthen themselves.
A well-balanced diet
You need a lot more vitamins and minerals when you are going through menopause.

In order to help support your bone health, you need sufficient calcium and magnesium
For calcium to be taken to your bones, you need magnesium
Having a sufficient amount of magnesium along with your calcium is vital
Having a varied diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and protein, can all help keep your bones strong and healthy
You also need vitamin D to help with calcium absorption and strengthening your bones
Additionally, include vitamin K in your diet, this increases bone mineral density
Things to avoid include, caffeine, alcohol as well as smoking
Manage your stress as this causes depletion of the very minerals and vitamins that you need to keep your bones healthy

Sources:
betterhealth.vic.gov.au – osteoporosis prevention
nhs.uk – osteoporosis overview

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8 Back Pain Conditions That Women Suffer From