Lower back pain is the most common type of pain reported by patients. In fact, about 25% of US adults have reported an episode of lower back pain.
If you’re experiencing lower back pain, you could find yourself unable to work or complete your usual activities.
Here are five different types of lower back pain you might experience. If these symptoms sound familiar, don’t wait to visit a specialist. Otherwise, your lower back pain could impact your quality of life.
Instead, you can determine what forms of lower back pain you’re experiencing before seeking treatment. Learning how to manage lower back pain will help you take control of your life.
Read on to discover the different forms of lower back pain today.
1. Inflammatory Back Pain
Inflammation is your immune system’s response to illness or injury. Usually, inflammation can help your body heal. Excessive inflammation, however, can cause pain and other symptoms.
As you review these different types of lower back pain with a doctor, determine if you’re experiencing inflammatory back pain.
This type of back pain can persist for over three months. You might experience stiffness as well. Your pain might get worse if you struggle to remain mobile.
Some patients experience worsening symptoms herniated disc in neck at night, too.
You might notice your pain symptoms are less intense after gentle physical activity or exercise. Anti-inflammatory medications might help with managing lower back pain, too.
Consider scheduling an appointment with a pain specialist or chiropractor. A manual adjustment might ease your inflammation and pain symptoms.
Otherwise, talk to your doctor about scheduling imaging tests. Imaging can help your doctor rule out any underlying conditions.
2. Extension Dominant Back Pain
Your zygapophyseal joints are located at the back of your spine. Pain in these joints indicates you’re experiencing extension dominant back pain. Other symptoms might include:
- Stiffness
- Localized spinal pain
- Tingling, pain, or numbness in the legs
- Pain after high impact activities
- Temporary pain relief when you bend or sit
- Pain after standing for an extended period
Let a doctor know if you’ve started experiencing these types of lower back pain. They might recommend surgery or manual therapy. They’ll determine the best ways to reduce pressure on your spine, too.
In the meantime, try improving your core strength. Maintain proper hip mobility, too.
You can work with a physical therapist or chiropractor to develop a low-impact exercise routine. Abdominal stabilizing exercises could ease your symptoms.
3. Neurogenic Claudication
Older patients can experience neurogenic claudication. This type of lower back pain can occur as you walk around or stand.
You’ll experience neurogenic claudication if your nerves become compressed. Symptoms include:
- Pain, tingling, or cramping in the buttocks, legs, or hips
- Weakness or heaviness in the legs
- Cramping, tingling, or pain in the lower back
Your symptoms might get worse when you stand or walk, too.
Some patients develop neurogenic claudication when their spinal canal begins to narrow. This condition is called spinal stenosis.
Spinal stenosis can occur when your lower spine begins experiencing arthritis changes like:
- Bulging discs
- The thickening of ligaments
- The overgrowth of bone spurs
Some patients notice a decrease in pain symptoms when they flex forward or sit down. For other patients, the pain gets worse when they stand or walk.
Talk to a physical therapist about developing an exercise routine to help ease your back pain. Flexion-based stretches throughout the day could help. Consider reducing your walking distances for a short period, too.
Otherwise, look for exercises that reduce pelvic anterior tilt.
Unfortunately, you might require surgery if managing lower back pain doesn’t work. A microdiscectomy could ease your pain if you have a herniated disc. Removing part of a bone (laminectomy) might help as well.
Work with a specialist to develop a treatment plan that works for you. You can view here for more information.
4. Flexion Dominant Back Pain
If you’ve injured a disc, you might experience flexion dominant back pain. Symptoms might include:
- Loss of range of motion
- Spine pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Pain that gets worse when you bend, sit, or lift
- Pain relief when you walk or stand for a short period
- Leg weakness or pain
If these symptoms and forms of back pain sound familiar, schedule an appointment with a specialist. Consider visiting a chiropractor to learn directional exercises and stretches you can use.
Stretching throughout your day might ease your symptoms. Your range of motion might improve, too. Your flexibility could increase as well.
In addition to spinal mobility exercise, you can also try:
- Core muscle strength training
- Proper lifting and squatting techniques
- Hip muscle strengthening and stretching exercises
You might want to consider making ergonomic changes to your workspace as well. If managing lower back pain doesn’t work, consider scheduling surgery instead.
5. Chronic Disorders
In some cases, these types of lower back pain could indicate you have a chronic disorder.
In fact, about 65 million Americans have reported recent episodes of back pain.
Of these, about 16 million adults (8% of all adults) experience chronic, persistent symptoms.
Remember, chronic back pain can impact your mobility and quality of life. You might struggle to complete certain activities, too.
The healthcare costs and indirect costs due to back pain have reached over $12 billion a year. We lose about 83 million days of work due to back pain every year, too.
In some cases, pain can migrate, causing pain to other parts of the body as a result. Without treatment, you might develop depression or anxiety, too.
Don’t wait to see treatment if you start experiencing these forms of lower back pain. Otherwise, your chronic pain symptoms will impact your quality of life.
Ease the Pain: 5 Common Types of Lower Back Pain That Require Treatment
You don’t have to live your life in pain. If these types of lower back pain sound familiar, visit a specialist. They’ll help you determine the best course of treatment based on your needs.
Managing lower back pain will improve your quality of life for years to come.
Searching for more guides? You’ve come to the right place.
Check out our latest articles today for more useful tips and tricks.
