Common Symptoms of Lower Back Pain
A large variety of symptoms are associated with lower back pain, depending on how severe or mild it is and what caused it, including:
Stiffness
This can make it difficult to move or straighten your back, and complicate activities like getting up from a seated position or trying to lay down in your bed, decreasing your range of motion.
Posture issues
When you have back pain, standing up straight can be tough. Normally, when you feel discomfort in your lower back you’ll stand in a bent way, rather than aligned with your spine.
Muscle spasms
After you suffer from a strain, the muscles in your lower back can start contracting without control. These spasms are extremely painful, and can limit your ability to stand, walk or move.
4 Reasons Behind Your Lower Back Pain
Several injuries and medical issues can cause discomfort in your lower back. It is so common because your lumbar bones support your body while also working as a point of connection for your muscles, allowing your body to move in all directions. Therefore, conditions regarding your lower back can affect your daily routine and your health. Some include:
Strains & sprains
While strains target the muscles or tendons, sprains go after the ligaments. Both of them can be caused by overusing your joints during a movement, forcing it beyond its range of motion. Sprains and strains can be treated at home with ice or heat packs and pain medications, but if the pain becomes chronic for your back, physical therapy and other treatments may be needed.
Posture
An unstable posture can cause pain or strain your back if you keep it unbalanced for long periods of time. This weakens the tissues in your lumbar spine, forcing your muscles and joints to work more than they should to keep your stability when sitting, walking or standing up. To prevent your posture from being damaged, it is recommended to take breaks when working on your desk, do stretching exercises, and use the correct techniques when you lift heavy weights.
Sciatica
A sharp, stabbing pain that you feel in the lower back, that navigates through the buttocks and goes into the hamstrings. When you have sciatica, you may also feel numbness and weakness when walking.
It happens when an injury puts pressure onto the sciatic nerve. Other causes can be arthritis, fractures, spinal stenosis and herniated discs. At first, you can treat this problem at home with pain medications and resting, but when these methods don’t work, physical therapy and steroid injections are the other options.
Arthritis
This is defined as a group of medical conditions that directly affect the joints, making the patient feel pain and inflammation in the targeted area. When the joints in the lower spin are inflamed, this easily causes pain in the lumbar spine and also radiates into the legs. Arthritis can make your joints swollen and limit your mobility.
The treatment for arthritis in your hip joints depends on how severe the symptoms are, but normally it includes physical therapy, medication, and a change in your habits. In other cases, it can require surgery.
Free Yourself from Lower Back Pain in Georgia
Stiffness, pain and a limited range of motion are symptoms that can change the course of your daily routine when lower back pain becomes a chronic, severe condition. Before it becomes a burden that threatens your wellbeing, the best thing to do is to call a trusted doctor that can help with healing your back.
At Arch Orthopedic & Spine, Dr. Callaway’s approach can help you manage your lower back pain and get back to function. If you want to take a new step towards a healthier life and a straight posture, contact us to book your appointment.
