Persistent lower back pain is common among many Nigerian women. Some people can track when the pain started, while others have come to accept it as part of their daily life. Lower back pain, medically known as low back pain, can affect both men and women, but this condition is especially common in women due to factors such as pregnancy, menopause, childbirth, and hormonal changes such as lifestyle. Reported by Janet Ogundepo
As a young, unmarried fashion designer, Oluwabukunmi never understood her mother’s complaints of back pain and often attributed it to age.
Now a middle-aged woman and mother of two, the fashion designer seems to understand the plight of mothers.
“I had never had lower back pain before, but after I got married, got pregnant, and had a child, I started having lower back pain,” a middle-aged woman told Punch Healthwise.
Oluwabukunmi said that when the pain becomes severe, she applies a menthol-based ointment to the area to relieve the pain.
She added that her profession as a fashion designer contributed to her pain.
“My job requires me to sit down and use my hips and legs a lot, so that contributes to the pain,” the fashion designer said.
A civil servant identified only as Mrs. Kajogbola also said she could not remember how long she had been living with constant lower back pain.
Although she attributes her pain to her personal job as a local grinder operator, she carries it like a badge of honor.
“I have pain in my back and I think it’s caused by the sander I use,” she said.
Kajogbola feels the pain in her lower back is a burden, but she continues to walk. Although she has annual check-ups, she never mentions her pain to her doctor and instead continues to manage it with painkillers.
To find out how many middle-aged women complain of back pain, Punch Healthwise randomly asked women around them whether they or someone they know suffered from the condition. The reaction was positive.
Lower back pain, medically known as low back pain, is a common problem caused by heavy lifting, muscle tension due to poor posture or sudden movements.
The World Health Organization reports that in 2020, 619 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain, which will rise to 843 million by 2050.
Medical experts who spoke exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise revealed that 80-90% of adults will experience LBP at least once in their lifetime.
The WHO further noted that although LBP can be experienced at any age, it is more prevalent in women.
Medical experts have identified multiple factors such as childbirth, high-heeled shoes, a sedentary lifestyle, and age-related changes as major contributors to increased lower back pain in women.
Experts said lower back pain, medically known as low back pain, affects both men and women, but certain factors unique to women, such as hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause, make women more susceptible to the condition.
They emphasized that malnutrition, obesity, prolonged sitting, and strenuous exercise worsen the symptoms.
They advocated for early medical intervention if low back pain persists, warning that ignoring symptoms could lead to long-term complications requiring surgical treatment.
Commenting on the issue, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ernest Orge said low back pain is common among women due to several factors related to the reproductive cycle, pregnancy, and work-related activities.
“In general, back pain is common in women for several reasons. Many factors need to interact to cause back pain, based on the reproductive cycle, pregnancy, and even work-related factors. But in most cases, aging and menopause can be the culprit,” Orji said.
Orji, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Osun State, points out that lower back pain in women begins with menstruation, noting that some women with dysmenorrhea also experience referred pain in the back.
“Typically, women start suffering from dysmenorrhea soon after menstruation begins. Some people with dysmenorrhea also experience back-related pain, especially if they have chronic infections. Those with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease end up feeling pain on the side of their back, leading to lower back pain,” the gynecologist said.
Professor Orji identified pregnancy as a major cause of back pain in women, explaining that the curvature of the spine and stress on the navel during pregnancy puts strain on women’s backs.
“Pregnancy itself puts strain on a woman’s back due to the curvature of the spine during pregnancy and of course the stress placed on the navel. So in the second half, that starts to cause problems. So childbirth is one of the main causes of back pain,” he said.
The professor pointed out that lower back pain often worsens as women approach menopause due to hormonal changes and aging.
“Typically, symptoms worsen as women get older and as hormone levels decline towards menopause. Lower back pain is generally more common in women,” he says.
Orji also identified wearing high-heeled shoes as an important but often overlooked cause of lower back pain, even among young women.
“Wearing high heels is one of the common causes of back pain in women. Even in young women who wear high heels, it’s an early problem,” Orji says.
Researchers also noted that stress, strenuous activity, and jobs that involve carrying heavy loads, such as farming or frequently carrying a baby, can worsen lower back pain.
Of course, there are various tasks such as carrying a baby on your back and carrying loads, and some tasks on the farm involve carrying loads and assuming unusual positions. I will also contribute to that. In general, strenuous exercise affects both men and women,” he said.
The obstetrician added that lifestyle and nutrition also played a role, warning that a diet high in carbohydrates, fat and fried foods could harm joints and ligaments.
“Eating a lot of fatty foods, oily foods and fried foods is not good. I recommend women with arthritis to stop eating red meat and eat lean meats such as fish and chicken to get more vitamins and protein,” he said.
The gynecologist explained that most women begin to notice recurrent lower back pain in their 40s, but lifestyle factors such as multiple childbirth, long sitting hours, and choice of footwear can cause the symptoms to appear earlier.
Regarding environmental factors, the professor pointed out that lifestyle plays a more important role than environmental factors, but acknowledged that cooler climates are better for overall health than harshly hot climates.
Regarding prevention, Orji advised women to avoid sitting for long periods of time, stop wearing high heels and adopt a healthier lifestyle, noting that once the damage begins, it is often more difficult to manage.
“Reducing back pain, lower back pain and everything else requires lifestyle modifications. A lot of times people start doing damage control when the problem starts, but most of the time by then the damage is already done,” he said.
He advised women with arthritis to increase their intake of vitamins and protein, as well as to stop eating red meat and choose lean meats such as fish and poultry.
“The best way to prevent lower back pain is for people with sedentary jobs to not sit for long periods of time. Women should stop wearing high heels and wear regular shoes. And they should eat healthy food. That’s very true. Eat healthy food,” advised the gynecologist.
Also, Dr. Emeka Oruji, an orthopedic surgeon at the Federal Medical Center in Umuahia, Abia State, said low back pain is one of the most common symptoms seen in orthopedic clinics around the world, affecting both men and women.
The former national president of the Resident Doctors Association of Nigeria said pregnancy and childbirth put women at particular risk due to hormonal and mechanical changes.
“Pregnancy affects the ligaments in the joints, including the spine, leading to some instability. Multiple pregnancies and frequent pregnancies increase the risk,” he said.
He explained that age-related degenerative changes in the spine are the most common cause of low back pain, but other serious conditions such as trauma, infection, and tumors must always be ruled out.
“It’s not normal to have pain everywhere. When a patient presents, we want to make sure it’s not caused by something serious like cancer, infection, trauma, tuberculosis, etc. because the treatments and the urgency are different,” Orji said.
He added that while degenerative low back pain is common and often manageable, it can have a significant impact on quality of life if untreated.
Orji said research suggests that 80 to 90 percent of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
Orthopedic surgeons advised women to take practical precautions, such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, practicing good posture, and avoiding repetitive bending or heavy lifting.
“When picking things up from the floor, it’s best to squat rather than bend over. It’s also important to use a firm or orthopedic mattress to provide good support for your spine,” says Orji.
He added that physical therapy, core strengthening exercises, and in some cases medications and minimally invasive procedures can help manage chronic cases.
Orji urged women to seek medical attention if their lower back pain persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms, stressing that early intervention can prevent long-term complications.
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