Understanding Burning Low Back Pain

If your back pain is accompanied by a burning sensation this can be a symptom of a myriad back problems. When most back pain sufferers indicate they have burning low back pain, what they really mean is that they are experiencing lower back pain with symptoms that include inflammation, irritation and muscle aggravation.

Often this type of burning back pain will subside on its own, provided you take it easy and rest your back for a few days. Unfortunately not all burning pain in the lower back goes away within a few days with rest. Persistent burning lower back pain may require further back pain treatment with the help of a professional.

The reason this particular type of back pain presents itself with a burning sensation is because this is the body’s way to let you know something is wrong. This is why there are many physical ailments often present with extreme heat in the affected area. Don’t ignore this type of pain as it can worsen over time.

Symptoms Of Burning Back Pain

The biggest indicator that your lower back pain is burning, are the traditional symptoms of inflammation, discomfort and back irritation. But those are not the only symptoms that accompany this type of back pain. You may also experience pain or discomfort during urination, vomiting and nausea and abdominal pain. While these symptoms don’t always mean burning low back pain, if these are present with the burning sensation you probably need to see a physician.

What Are The Causes?

Since burning back pain in the lower back isn’t its own subset of back pain it is difficult for physicians to assign an exact reason for these symptoms. However we do know that a burning sensation indicates extreme pain, which means acute back pain or chronic back pain, or ischemia.

Acute or chronic back muscle pain can occur because your muscles have been exhausted from traditional exercise, general fatigue or muscle tightness. Sometimes this muscle pain is purely psychological—meaning that it was brought on due to stress. Most often however, burning back pain can be a source of trauma or injury to the back muscles in the form of a muscle sprain or tear.

Ischemic back pain is due to depriving your body of oxygen, which of course is essential to a well-functioning body. The cause of ischemic back pain can often be traced to physical injury to the back including those mentioned above. However this type of pain can also manifest itself psychologically.

Whether it’s due to anxiety, stress or another mental problem, ischemia can cause a burning lower back pain by denying the body the oxygen and nutrients it needs to repair injuries. This is true of all types of back injury, but if you have chronic back pain, ischemia can exacerbate the problem.

Can It Be Fixed?

Any type of back pain can be excruciating to deal with on a regular basis. Back pain zaps your energy levels, can cause melancholy and depression, and lead to even more inactivity which can cause back pain to worsen. Although it is easier to revert to these unhealthy methods of coping, the best form of back pain treatment is to be proactive.

If you already suffer from back pain or this is a recent occurrence in your life, regular exercise and stretching can relax the muscles and improve flexibility. Both of these actions will help get rid of back pain.

If however the pain persists for more than a few days or worsens in that time—even with exercise and stretching—you need to seek out the help of a physician, physical therapist, chiropractor or massage therapist. Sometimes burning back pain appears without any trauma or injury to the back muscles or spine, when this happens your physician will need to help diagnose this back pain.