Types of Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors. Here are some of the most common types of low back pain:

1. Muscle strain: This occurs when the muscles in your lower back are stretched or pulled beyond their limits, leading to pain and stiffness.

2. Herniated disc: This is when a disc in your lower back bulges or ruptures, putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness in your back, legs, or feet.

3. Sciatica: This is a type of pain that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down through your legs, is compressed or irritated, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

4. Spinal stenosis: This is a condition that occurs when the spaces within your spinal column narrow, putting pressure on the nerves that run through it and causing pain, numbness, or weakness in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

5. Spondylolisthesis: This is a condition that occurs when a vertebra in your lower back slips out of place, putting pressure on nearby nerves and causing pain, numbness, or weakness in your lower back, buttocks, legs, or feet.

6. Osteoarthritis: As you age it is perfectly normal for your lower back to show wear and tear and age-related change. Your intervertebral discs will lose water and your bones will get closer together as a result. This can cause the nerves to get easily irritated as they leave the spinal cord, causing local back pain and radiation of pain/pins and needles down the legs.

Over the years I have successfully helped people with all of the problems listed above.

It's important to see a healthcare provider if you're experiencing low back pain, as there can sometimes be more serious cause behind a low back problem.

Come and see me at Osteostudio in Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead.

Cliff Russell, Registered Osteopath

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