Are you experiencing discomfort in your lower back? You aren’t alone. Even if you haven’t suffered any previous injuries or have none of the risk factors, you can still experience lower back pain at any time.
Although lower back discomfort isn’t always severe and often gets better on its own, it can often indicate something is amiss. When pain last for more than three days, you should consult a lower back pain doctor.
Why is lower back discomfort such a common issue?
There are usually only five vertebrae in the lower region of your back. And these vertebrae perform most of the heavy lifting.
Your lower back bears the weight of your upper body. This area experiences a great deal of movement and stress, leading to injuries.
Symptoms of Back Pain in the Lower Back
Identifying and characterizing symptoms with precision can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and treatment strategy. Low back pain is usually accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain that is dull and agonizing
The pain in the low back is usually dull and aching rather than searing, stinging, or acute. Mild to severe muscular spasms, limited movement and soreness in the hips and pelvis can accompany this type of discomfort.
- Pain that spreads to the buttocks, legs, and feet
Often, low back pain is accompanied by a sharp, stinging, tingling, or numb feeling that travels down the legs and into the feet, commonly known as sciatica.
Sciatica is a condition caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve that affects only one side of the body.
- Pain that gets worse after sitting for a long time
When sitting for extended periods of time, there is an increase in pressure on the discs, resulting in back discomfort.
Low back pain can be relieved quickly by walking and stretching, but symptoms may return if you go back to a sitting position.
- Pain that subsides when you change positions
Positions that are more comfortable will vary depending on the source of the pain. With spinal stenosis, walking may be uncomfortable, but leaning forward onto something can ease the pain.
The way your symptoms alter as you move about can help you figure out what’s causing your pain.
- Pain that is worst when you first get up and improves when you move around
Many people who suffer from low back pain say their symptoms are worse first thing in the morning. Symptoms are eased after getting up and moving around.
The stiffness induced by long periods of relaxation, decreased blood flow when sleeping, and possibly the quality of the mattress and pillows used all contribute to morning pain.
Low back discomfort can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Low back pain is unique to each person, and many factors influence how they feel, such as mental and emotional health, financial stress, and degree of exercise and activity.
Who should you see if suffering from lower back pain?
A lower back pain doctor should be your first point of contact if you are experiencing lower back discomfort. These experts take a holistic approach to lower back pain, diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases that include lower back pain as a symptom.
