Back Pain:
Most people experience some form of back pain during their life. The causes for such pain vary from person to person; however, some common activities that result in back pain include sports injuries, strenuous lifting, or simply bad habits acquired over a lifetime. Most forms of back pain share the same symptoms though. If you feel that you have any of the symptoms listed below, we encourage you to visit one o our locations to seek treatment.
- Stiffness or a continuous ache along the spine (from the base of the neck to the hips)
- Sharp, direct points of pain in the neck, lower back, or upper back (usually occurs after heavy lifting)
- After standing or sitting for an extended amount of time you experience a prolonged ache in the middle or lower back
- Any radiating pain from the lower back down to the buttocks, down the thigh, and into the calf an toes
- Severe muscle spasms in the low back whenever standing straight
Some other conditions associated with back pain include:
Herniated Disc:
The vertebrae that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs which absorb shock and keep the spine flexible. When the discs are damaged, they become swollen and may break. This is what is called a slipped, ruptured, or herniated disc.
This condition most commonly occurs in the lower back. It may result from general wear and tear of the disc, which increases as you become older and the discs become less flexible and dry out. Other times when there is injury to the spine, the discs may crack and release the gel inside of them, forcing the disc to bulge, and on occasion break into pieces.
The most common symptom to this condition in the lower back is called sciatica. It occurs when the herniated disc presses down on nerve roots. This may either cause extreme pain or numbness in the buttocks and down the leg.
It is possible that a herniated disc may not press down on a nerve at all. As a result you may have no pain at all, and only suffer from a back ache. Either way it is best to seek medical advice if you believe you have any of the symptoms mentioned.
Pinched Nerves:
The most important aspect to remember about this condition is that it needs to be treated early because it is commonly linked to on-the-job injuries. The term “pinched nerves” is used to describe the compression, stretching, or constriction of a nerve or a set of nerves. Symptoms are broad but include numbness, a burning sensation, pins-and-needles, and pain which radiates outward from the injured area.
Fibromyalgia:
This syndrome is still widely misunderstood and commonly misdiagnosed. It is, however, characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and further accompanied by chronic fatigue. The following symptoms imply the presence of fibromyalgia and can indicate the increased likelihood that the patient will develop another disease: anxiety or depression, tender points or decreased pain threshold, widespread pain, and fatigue.
