This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace advice from your personal physician.
This information is intended for educational
purposes only and is not intended to replace advice
from your personal physician.
What is the leading cause of time away from work in
the U.S.? If
you answered, back pain, you win! Through the
course of our daily activities, the back is
constantly in use. The back provides the structure
that allows us to sit, stand, and turn as well as
the more active motions of bending and lifting.
Muscles, nerves and tissue connect along the spine
to support our everyday movements. Nearly any of
these tissues, muscles or structures can be come
stretched or stressed. Constant bending, lifting or
twisting cause the vast majority of back strains or
sprains with the tearing of the paraspinal muscles
causing inflamation in the back muscles and the
classic low back pain.
Fortunately, most of these common back injuries can be treated conservatively; rest alone works wonders. It does take time, typically 3 to 4 weeks. Of course, it is not practical to stay in bed for 3 weeks, but avoiding lifting or prolonged activity can really help. Applying moist heat to the back, taking over the counter anti-inflammatories and some basic stretching exercises may help you bounce back faster and return to normal activities sooner. (See Basic Conditioning for Low-Back Pain)
Back pain may also include pain radiating into the buttocks and upper thighs. This is frequently due to tightness in the muscles and not related to a pinched nerve or sciatica. In sciatica, the pain truly radiates down the leg frequently below the knee and all the way to the foot. In cases of sciatic pain a physician can perform some simple tests at the time of a physical exam to determine whether this pain is simply from inflammation in the back or truly related to a more severe problem such as a pinched nerve or a herniated disk.
Fortunately, most of these common back injuries can be treated conservatively; rest alone works wonders. It does take time, typically 3 to 4 weeks. Of course, it is not practical to stay in bed for 3 weeks, but avoiding lifting or prolonged activity can really help. Applying moist heat to the back, taking over the counter anti-inflammatories and some basic stretching exercises may help you bounce back faster and return to normal activities sooner. (See Basic Conditioning for Low-Back Pain)
Back pain may also include pain radiating into the buttocks and upper thighs. This is frequently due to tightness in the muscles and not related to a pinched nerve or sciatica. In sciatica, the pain truly radiates down the leg frequently below the knee and all the way to the foot. In cases of sciatic pain a physician can perform some simple tests at the time of a physical exam to determine whether this pain is simply from inflammation in the back or truly related to a more severe problem such as a pinched nerve or a herniated disk.