Back Pain Symptoms

Back pain symptoms may range from muscle ache to shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight. Chronic back pain is pain that persists for more than 3 months. It is often progressive and the cause can be difficult to determine.

Lower back pain symptoms are very common among adults of all ages. In fact, lower back pain is so common that four out of five patients who see their doctors complain of this ailment during physical examinations.

The causes of lower back pain can be difficult to pinpoint, but most often the pain is the result of a herniated disc, a pinched nerve, a muscle strain, sciatica, or misalignment of the spine.

Lower back pain symptoms can vary according to what is causing the pain in the first place. Patients suffering from sciatica often complain of a sharp shooting pain that runs from the lower back, down through the buttocks and legs, and finally into the feet and toes.

Usually the pain is confined to one side of the body, and may be accompanied by a tingling sensation, along with tenderness and weakness in that area. Sitting up or walking seem to exacerbate the condition, and lying down tends to bring some relief.

Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain is the result of trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis.

Patients with chronic low back pain may show back pain symptoms such as experiencing pain that is limited to the midline lumbar region, or pain that is referred to any of a large number of sites, including paraspinal region; posterior pelvis, hips, or buttocks; posterior or lateral thigh, knee or leg; or anywhere in the foot.

If the pain is below the knee, it suggests that the origin is not just damage to the spine and surrounding tissues, but also damage to the nerve roots that travel out of the spine and into the leg. Pain that radiates down the buttock and back of the thigh and leg is termed sciatica. The pain may be described as aching, sharp, or throbbing.

Herniated Disc

A herniated disc often times does not cause any discomfort, or it can cause extreme discomfort. Back pain symptoms include sharp shooting pain, which can be associated with weakness and numbness in the area.

A herniated disc can bring on sciatica, so the two often go together. If you experience any kind of back pain that causes you to slow down or become immobile, you need to seek out the medical attention of your physician for a proper medical diagnosis.

Common Lower Back Pain Symptoms

A lumbar curve subjected to poor posture when sitting can cause nerve compression, irritation, inflammation, and may result in any of the following types of lower back symptoms or pain -