Trauma can come in many forms, from having a fall or being involved in a car accident, to working too hard at the gym. Some acute injuries are minor and may heal on their own, but others are more serious. If your back pain does not begin to subside within a few days, see a doctor to ensure that you do not have an injury that requires medical intervention, like a fracture. Strains and sprains are the most common exercise-related injuries. They normally heal within a week with no medical intervention. [2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Try getting up for frequent walking breaks throughout the day. It’s important to get up from your desk at least once every 60 minutes. You can set reminders on your computer or watch to make sure that you stay on track If possible, get a standing desk so that you can work without sitting all day. If you can’t move more during the day, try to improve your comfort by using lumbar support pillows or an ergonomically-designed chair. If increasing your activity doesn’t improve your back pain, there may be something more serious going on, so it’s a good idea to see your doctor.
Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position for back pain. Try flipping over on your back to see if you can get some relief. You may also want to put a pillow under your knees to see if that helps. You can also try sleeping on your side with a pillow in between your knees. If this does not relieve your back pain right away, don’t give up. You may need to experiment with the pillow height to find the best position for your lower back. Your mattress should be firm to support your back, but not so firm that you shoulders start to bother you. For most people, a medium-firmness mattress is ideal.
Avoid wearing high heels, as they can cause your spine to be misaligned. If you wear flats, make sure they have some arch support to them. Flat shoes like flip flops can be just as bad for your back, if not worse, than high heels.
Children often experience back pain from carrying backpacks that are too heavy. To avoid this, make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 20% of his or her body weight.
Running can also produce low back pain. Running on an uneven surface or on a track can also lead to other problems, such as pronated feet, which can disrupt proper muscle movements and cause pain all the way up to the back.
Spondylolisthesis can cause pain in the low back, buttocks, and legs. [10] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you have sharp pain that is isolated to one side of the lower back, it may be caused by kidney stones. Sciatica causes pain and tingling in the low back, and usually in one leg and/or foot. Lumbar disc disease often causes a shooting or tingling pain in the back. [11] X Research source Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain in many different areas of the body, including the lower back. [12] X Research source Muscular pain from muscle knots can also cause local pain, or pain that radiates into the buttocks or upper thighs. However, keep in mind that back pain can be a complicated disorder and there are times when the symptoms may not fit the condition. That’s why it is important to have a full evaluation by your healthcare provider who can diagnose your condition and identify the cause of your lower back pain. It is better to get physical therapy before seeing a primary care doctor or a back surgeon. [13] X Expert Source Jarod Carter, DPT, CMTPhysical Therapist Expert Interview. 11 June 2020. A physical therapist can treat the cause of the back pain instead of only treating the symptoms. [14] X Expert Source Jarod Carter, DPT, CMTPhysical Therapist Expert Interview. 11 June 2020.
If your pain increases with standing, bending backward, and twisting, but decreases with bending forward, the source is likely the facet joints in your spine. If your pain started for no apparent reason and was accompanied by a popping sensation, you are likely suffering from sciatica. If the pain gets worse when you sit down, you may have a herniated lumbar disc. [15] X Research source If your pain increases with walking but decreases if you bend forward or sit down, then your pain may be caused by a stenosis, which is when the open spaces in your spine become narrow. [16] X Research source Pain that comes and goes throughout the day may be caused by a problem with one of the internal organs, such as the kidney or pancreas. [17] X Research source
Spondylolisthesis can cause weakness in the back and legs. [19] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Spinal stenosis can cause weakness when walking. Sciatica often causes weakness in only one leg. Infections can cause generalized weakness, along with fever and chills. [20] X Research source Cauda equina syndrome, a serious spinal cord injury, can cause numbness between the inner thighs. [21] X Research source
Spondylolisthesis can cause stiffness in the lower back. [22] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source There are several inflammatory joint diseases, such as reactive arthritis, that tend to cause muscle stiffness, especially in younger patients. [23] X Research source
The FABER test is used to diagnose sacroiliac joint disease. Your doctor will rotate your hip externally while you lie on your back. If you experience pain, your symptoms are coming from he sacroiliac joint. [24] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source The straight-leg test is used to diagnose herniated discs. Your doctor will raise your leg straight in the air while you are lying on your back. If you experience pain during this test, you most likely have a herniated disc. [25] X Research source Your doctor may ask you to bend backwards. This test is used to diagnose spinal stenosis, as those suffering from the condition will experience pain when bending backwards. [26] X Research source
X-rays are useful for diagnosing conditions that can be seen in the bones, such as fractures and bone spurs. They are not used for diagnosing conditions related to the soft tissue. Be aware that an x-ray is just part of what your doctor will use to find a diagnosis for your condition. An x-ray alone will not usually provide answers about your condition. There are many people with degenerative changes on x-rays who do not have any pain. Disc degeneration, facet joint osteoarthritis, or osteophytes are present in nearly 90 percent of people over the age of 64. [29] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
MRIs and CT scans are useful for diagnosing conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative joint disease. However, your doctor will use your MRI or CT results in combination with your other findings to come to a logical conclusion about your diagnosis. Findings on an MRI should not be cause for concern. Studies have shown that 52 to 81 percent of asymptomatic individuals have evidence of a bulging disc. [31] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Bone scans are especially useful for diagnosing tumors, as well as osteoporosis.
Nerve damage and compression can be caused by many different things, including herniated discs and spinal stenosis. An EMG will not identify the source of the nerve damage, but it will help your doctor understand how the underlying condition is affecting the rest of your body.
