Everyone will experience symptoms of lower back pain at some point in their lives, but what is the cause of this pain? There are many different causes of lower back pain ranging from stiff, tired muscles, to herniated discs. We need to pinpoint the exact cause of the pain in order to alleviate it. Lower back pain is divided into two types: acute or chronic pain. Acute lower back pain lasts for a few days and no longer than a couple of weeks. On the other side of the coin however, chronic back pain is defined as back pain lasting longer than three months.
Lower back pain can make every movement difficult. Simple tasks such as cleaning or doing laundry can become impossible. The pain can also radiate down the buttocks, back of the thigh into the calf, and even into your toes. It can feel like swelling and soreness along your spine.
The pain may feel sharp and localized, or dull and constant in a large area. Sharp pain may occur when lifting heavy objects. Dull pain may occur after sitting for a long period of time in a old and uncomfortable chair.
Lower back pain can also feel like spasms in your back. Spasms are sharp, intense pain that last for a short period of time. These spasms may occur when you try to stand in an upright position.
One of the most common symptoms of lower back pain is caused by direct injury to the muscles. It can be caused by car accidents, or lifting too much weight at the gym. Besides trauma, muscle imbalances in the body are the second leading cause of all types of back pain. Muscle imbalances do not occur overnight. They are the result of the daily repetitious activities we perform day in and day out, such as working at a computer desk all day, driving in our cars, playing our favorite sports, and so forth.
If you are experiencing lower back pain symptoms it is important to not ignore it, especially if you have been dealing with it for more than a few weeks.
If you would like to learn more about lower back pain please visit our lower back pain page at: losethebackpain.com/conditions/lowerbackpain.html. Make sure to also check out our videos section as it contains many useful demonstrations of stretches you can perform to help alleviate lower back pain.
