General back pain and specific
lower back pain may come on suddenly. This acute pain usually
responds well to conservative treatments like rest and pain relievers. Chronic
low back pain, however, ranges from annoying to debilitating.
The vertebrae labeled L1 through L5
make up the lumbar region of your spine. They’re located from your hips up to
the bottom of your ribcage. This area of your spine is known for:
– These vertebrae are larger than
those in the cervical and thoracic spine.
– They support most of the weight from
the upper parts of your body.
– Round, rubbery pads, called discs,
sit between the lower back bones and act as shock absorbers so you can move
freely without bones rubbing against each other.
The spine is connected to your hip
bones by the sacrum, which is considered part of the lumbar, or lower back
area. The five vertebrae in the sacrum are fused together. With the hip bones,
they form what’s called the pelvic girdle. Because the lumbar spine is the
workhorse of your back, it’s prone to injury more often than the spinal structures.