7 back pain conditions that affects women
Back pain is a common complaint for which both men and women seek medical help. It may be caused due to various factors, such as posture, accident, arthritis, and lifestyle. However, along with other common factors, women are more susceptible to developing back pain. This blog discusses the seven conditions that can cause back pain in women.
Spinal osteoarthritis
Spinal osteoarthritis refers to the wear and tear arthritis of the facet joints (joints that connect your vertebrae). It is more common in old women and the risk of developing this increases with obesity. Symptoms of spinal osteoarthritis include:
- Pain in the lower back, buttocks and thighs
- Stiffness in the back, typically on waking up and at the end of the day
- Occasional flares of severe pain
Piriformis syndrome
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle involuntarily contracts and causes compression of the sciatic nerve. This painful musculoskeletal condition is characterised by a shooting pain that starts in the hips and radiates into the lower leg. Its other symptoms are:
- Tingling sensation in buttocks
- Inability to prolonged sitting
- Pain when trying to get out of bed
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder that causes the growth of uterine tissue outside the womb. Back pain due to endometriosis resembles a sharp and stabbing pain and affects some women quite severely. Other symptoms include:
- Back pain worsened during the menstrual cycle
- Pain in the lower abdomen
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs before menstruation and causes back pain in a significant proportion of women. During PMS, there is a decline in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. Its symptoms present themselves five to six days before periods as lower back pain, back muscle pain, mood swings, fatigue, abdominal pain, etc.
Painful menstruation
Dysmenorrhea is the term for painful menstruation. It predisposes women to frequent and harsh cramping, which causes severe pain in the back, abdomen, leg and hips for 2-3 days. Dysmenorrhea is typically classified into two types, primary and secondary, and low back pain is a common symptom of both types.
Primary Dysmenorrhea
It starts when a woman gets her period for the first time and remains throughout her life. It occurs due to uterine contractions and causes severe menstrual cramping.
Secondary Dysmenorrhea
It usually starts later in a woman’s life and is often triggered by a medical condition such as endometriosis or pelvic infection.
Dysmenorrhea may cause lower back pain symptoms.
Coccydynia (tailbone pain)
Coccydynia refers to pain in the coccyx (end of the spine). It is mostly due to trauma, falls or vaginal childbirth. Tailbone pain is five times more common in women because of the difference in shape and angle of their pelvis. It causes pain in the back, mostly when sitting down, leaning backwards, or standing up from a seated posture.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
Sacroiliac joint function is characterised by an inflammation in your sacroiliac joints- the joint between the pelvis and the lower spine. This condition often leads to pain in one side of the back and worsens when standing or climbing the stairs. Other symptoms include:
- Pain in the buttocks that radiates down to the hips and thighs
- Inflammation in the pelvis
- Pain that doesn’t extend above the waist
Dr Sherief Elsayed is a renowned spine surgeon in Dubai. If you would like an assessment of what may be causing your back pain, book an appointment to see Dr Sherief today.
