Lower back pain can be caused by a compilation of things, including injury to the discs, nerves, joints, and surrounding tissues. It's important to recognize where the injury and stiffness is occurring in order for the doctor to perform the right treatment. Doing any unnecessary treatments is a waste of time and could cause a prolonged recovery of the real injured areas. Here are the three main categories of lower back pain that can make your diagnosis easier to find:
Mechanical Lower Back Pain - This is the most common form of back pain and it can be caused by sprains, strains, facet and sacroiliac (SI) syndromes, and more. The main difference between mechanical and nerve related lower back pain is that mechanical is absent of a pinched nerve which usually causes leg tingling or weakness. It's rare for those who suffer from mechanical lower back pain to feel pain lower than the knee.
Nerve Root Related Back Pain - This form of back pain is not as common but is more severe and it is associated with a pinched nerve that causes shooting, sharp pain which may radiate down to the lower extremities. It can cause leg tingling, numbness, and/or muscle weakness. The location of the weakness and pain is correlated to which and where the nerve is located. There are seven main nerves within the legs and these are the main components to think about if this is the primary area of pain.
Pathology - Many things can cause both mechanical and nerve root related lower back pain, such as over exerting oneself in activities and/or prolonged awkward sitting and standing postures. Some incidents of injuries arise while performing daily living activities because of improper body mechanics when bending, lifting, or twisting. There are even situations when symptoms occur without any particular injury or trauma, but this is pretty rare.
It is important to be aware of your body and to know what doesn't feel right. Remember to be careful when doing any physical activity and to give yourself proper rest and rehabilitation in order to reduce the chance of symptoms. If you are feeling any type of pain or stiffness, contact us here at Kenwood Chiropractic so we can help you get back to your healthiest self!