“The mechanisms that cause low back pain and swelling are extremely complex, and there are many different conditions that can cause it, and sometimes a combination of conditions may cause low back pain and swelling. In older people in particular, lower back pain can be caused by a combination of spinal degeneration, reduced muscle strength, lowered hormone levels and osteoporosis.
Lumbar disc herniation is one of the common causes of lower back soreness and is one of the most commonly heard about in various media reports. In most people, the lumbar spine degenerates as we age and the words “herniated disc” may be found in the report through an MRI, for example. However, the term ‘herniated disc’ in imaging may not fully explain the symptoms of lumbar swelling and it is necessary to see an orthopaedic or spinal surgeon to determine the cause of the lumbar swelling so that the ‘right treatment’ can be given.”