Low Back Pain

Causes of Back Pain

• Spine strain or sprain
• caused by trauma (eg. auto accident) 
• Degenerative changes  and spinal stenosis
• caused by old injury or repetitive trauma
• Herniated disk
• caused by improper lifting, or lifting of a heavy object
• Muscle Spasm
• can be associated with the afformention conditions
• Poor posture with abnormal body mechanics
• Refered pain from internal organs

This is an illustration of a Intervertebral Disc (IVD) in the low back which has Herniated. 

The inner soft (nucleus pulposus) has herniated through the tough outer layer (annulus fibrosus).

The result is compression of the spinal nerve closest to the disc.

Signs & Symptoms:

• Inflamation & swelling
• Muscle spasm of the adjacent back muscles
• Stiffness & decreased range of motion
• Radiating pain in the buttock and/or leg (sciatica)

Sciatica - Radiating pain in one or both Buttock(s) and/or Leg(s). Person can also experience numbness or tingling in the lower extermity. Pain can occur with prolonged sitting, going from sitting to standing, and/or prolonged standing.

Possible Causes:

• Lumbar Disc Pathology
• Lumbar Spine Sprain
• Pregnancy
• Spasm of Piriformis Muscle
• Trauma to Sciatic Nerve