Lower back pain can get in the way of enjoying yourself. In fact, it can seriously impact your quality of life and sense of wellness in the world. For some people, it even makes getting out of the house harder. One MyObesityTeam member who experienced this said, “I have mobility issues due to my lower back.”

If you experience lower back pain and wonder whether it’s related to a diagnosis of obesity, here’s what you need to know. With this knowledge, you can work with your doctor can come up with ways to alleviate that pain so you can feel better and live the life you love.

Does Obesity Cause Lower Back Pain?

While obesity is tied to lower back pain, so are a lot of other things.

Obesity seems to be connected to pain. While about 10 percent of the general population deals with chronic pain, that number rises to 33 percent among people diagnosed with obesity. This may mean that people living with obesity are more likely to have pain than the general population.

Research supports the connection between obesity and pain. For instance, one study showed that obesity is a risk factor for having acute back pain transition to long-lasting lower back pain. Importantly, the study pointed out that obesity is one among several risk factors. Smoking, having a high baseline level of disability, and being diagnosed with anxiety and depression were also risk factors.

According to another study, being diagnosed as overweight or having obesity makes it more likely that a person will experience lower back pain. However, a person’s sex, race, and ethnicity can influence how much this risk will ultimately affect them. This indicates that certain personal factors may also play a role in determining who experiences this kind of pain.

Lower back pain can also be caused by injuries, overuse, arthritis, a wide variety of diseases, and spinal problems. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider anytime you’re experiencing pain. They can help you figure out what might be causing your pain, which can help you get the best treatment for your needs.

How Might Obesity Lead to Lower Back Pain?

If you and your doctor think your body weight is a cause of back pain, it might stem from several reasons.

First of all, carrying more weight, as indicated by a higher body mass index (BMI) or other scales, may lead to changes in your posture that eventually cause back pain. The way this affects your body might depend on where you carry that extra weight. If you hold a lot of weight in your stomach, for instance, it might pull you forward. Changes like this can put extra strain on your back.

Second, obesity is associated with inflammation. Normally, some inflammation is needed to heal the body of injuries or infections. However, too much or long-standing inflammation creates harmful effects. Fat cells seem to make and release hormones and other chemicals that tell the body it needs to inflame. This can irritate a variety of tissues in your back. As time passes, chronic (long-lasting) obesity can mean chronic inflammation and chronic lower back pain.

Finally, carrying more weight can mean more stress on the bones, joints, back muscles, and other tissues in your body. This can lead to problems with the discs that sit between your vertebrae, which can create pressure on the nerves that run through them. This pressure can cause significant lower back pain.

Sometimes, people may avoid moving around as much when they’re living with lower back pain. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which can weaken your muscles and cause you to gain more weight, leading to more pain. It’s important to interrupt this process if it’s happening so you can feel better.

Treating Lower Back Pain

There are a number of steps you can take to manage and treat lower back pain. These ideas are useful for anyone with this kind of pain, whether obesity is a factor or not.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can be key for helping with lower back pain. You’ll meet regularly with a therapist who will help you strengthen your back muscles to support the spine and become more flexible there. They can also help you with issues associated with mobility and posture, so you can avoid this kind of pain in the future.

Physical therapists can also help you find ways to move that help with your lower back pain. This can seem counterintuitive, since most people try to avoid movement or physical activity when they hurt. However, doing the right exercises in the right ways seems to be better than several other options when it comes to helping with low back pain. In addition, a physical therapist can also tell you which particular postures or exercises to avoid that can worsen the back pain.

Physical therapy is common among members at MyObesityTeam. Many use it to help with lower back pain. One member shared, “I have physical therapy for my lower back this evening; hopefully, it will help with my lower back pain!”

Another found that it worked really well for them. They explained: “Getting physical therapy for my lower back pain! My therapist worked me over! I was feeling the burn while doing it, but it helped my back pain so much!”

Pain Management

There are a number of pain management techniques that can help with lower back pain relief.

Some of these involve taking medications. Many of these medications help with inflammation, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Sometimes, a healthcare provider may also give you muscle relaxants if the muscles in your back aren’t releasing the way they should.

Other times, you may need to have injections into your back to help with the pain. These are steroids designed to help manage the pain for a period of time. Usually, they won’t take away the problem that’s causing you pain.

Members of MyObesityTeam have used these injections and found them helpful. “Got another 10 shots in my lower back. I really hope the pain will go away. But since the last shot, I’m able to sleep more,” one shared.

Adjustments and Massage

Some healthcare providers know how to safely move the bones in your back around to help alleviate pain. These may be osteopathic doctors or chiropractors. Before you book your appointment, do your research to find a good provider. They can’t help with all types of pain, but it might be worth a visit to see if they think they can help you feel better.

If you and your doctor think that your low back pain is tied to tight muscles, a massage therapist may be able to help. They can often get those muscles to relax so you hurt less.

Does Losing Weight Help With Lower Back Pain?

Lowering your body weight helps to alleviate lower back pain as it reduces the stress on the spine and reduces inflammation. However, weight loss can be a long-term endeavor. Many people find that they don’t have to lose a lot of weight before their back starts to feel better. Even losing a small amount of weight can help ease the back pain.

If your back pain from obesity is disabling, you can treat or manage it in other ways while you also pursue weight loss. You don’t have to live in pain while you’re waiting to see if weight loss helps.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you’re experiencing lower back pain, talk to a healthcare provider soon. Sometimes, people assume that their back will stop hurting on its own or that back pain isn’t a good reason to get medical advice. However, you should seek help anytime you’re in pain. You deserve to feel good and be able to move around easily, and your doctor can help you figure out what you need to do to get back to that point.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyObesityTeam is the social network for people with obesity and their loved ones. On MyObesityTeam, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with obesity.

Do you experience lower back pain related to obesity? What has worked for you to manage it? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.