Suffering With Back Pain or Lower Back Related Pain?

Types of Lower Back Pain

When there is no underlying medical condition or pathology the most common type pain is Mechanical lower back pain.

This means that the pain has come from the spinal joints, discs, vertebrae, nerves or surrounding soft tissues (muscles, ligaments or tendons).

Mechanical lower back pain; includes muscle or ligament strain sprains, herniated discs, compressed nerve roots, degenerative discs or joint disease.

This accounts for over 90% of all reported cases within the UK and is commonly and effectively treated by manual therapies including Chiropractic. Before any treatment is commenced a thorough examination is required to determine which structures are involved.

Common Symptoms of Mechanical Low Back related Pain

Symptoms can vary from person to person, it may have started suddenly and be associated with a specific incident or it may have come on gradually over time and is then often related to lifestyle factors or ageing. Pain varies in severity from mild to acute and you may have some good days and some bad days.

• Pain that is dull or achy, focused to the lower back
• Pain that increases with movement or a change of posture
• Stinging, burning pain that travels from the lower back to the back of the thighs and lower legs.
• Pain that worsens after prolonged sitting or standing
• Muscle spasms and stiffness in the lower back, often worse in the mornings.
• Some people with back pain also have pain down one leg, or into the buttock or groin, commonly known as sciatica.

Consult your GP if in addition to your back pain you feel unwell or have a history of Cancer or Osteoporosis.

You should seek medical attention right away if you:

• have numbness or tingling around your bottom or genitals
• have sudden difficulty passing urine
• lose control of your bowels
• are unsteady when you walk, your legs feel weak or your foot is dropping or dragging

These may be signs that the nerves at the bottom of your spine are being pressed on. This is called cauda equina syndrome and needs urgent treatment.

Common Causes of Mechanical Low Back Pain

Sitting still for long periods of time has now become a more common cause, although lifting and carrying remain the number one catalysts.

In 2013 Housework and DIY were blamed for 29% of cases while sport and exercise were associated with 26% of reported cases.*

What is Happening in Your body when Lower Back Pain Strikes

Once any underlying medical condition is ruled out and the cause of your back pain is known to be mechanical in nature it is then important to determine which mechanical structures are involved.

In all cases and regardless of what structures are involved there will be inflammation. When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body’s white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues to heal the area. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury, and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. This protective process also stimulates nerves in the area causing pain.