By far the most common cause of lower back pain is a muscle strain or other soft tissue damage. While this condition is not serious, it can be severely painful. More often than not lower back pain from a muscle strain will get better within one to three weeks.
Treatment usually involves a short period of rest, use of hot packs and/or cold packs for local discomfort and over the counter pain medication. Prescription pain medications may be recommended for severe back pain.
In some instances, a patient may experience more noticeable leg pain as opposed to back pain as a result of certain conditions in the lower back, including:
- Lumbar herniated disc. The inner core of the disc may leak out and irritate a nearby nerve root, causing leg pain (sciatica).
- Lumbar spinal stenosis. The spinal canal narrows due to degeneration, which can put pressure on the nerve root and cause pain to be experienced down all or part of the back leg (sciatica).
- Degenerative disc disease. As the disc degenerates it can allow small amounts of motion in that segment of the spine and irritate a nerve root and cause sciatica.
- Osteoarthritis. Degeneration of the small facet joints in the back of the spine can cause back pain and decreased flexibility. May also lead to spinal stenosis and nerve pinching.
It is important to know the underlying condition that is causing the low back pain, as treatments will often differ depending on the cause.
While lower back pain is extremely common, the symptoms and severity of lower back pain vary greatly.
A simple muscle strain might be excruciating enough to require a visit to A&E, while a degenerating disc might cause only mild, intermittent discomfort.
Identifying the symptoms, along with an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of the pain, is the first step in obtaining effective pain relief.
Contact us at our Bolton osteopath clinic to discuss a range of treatments designed to offer immediate relief.
