Bournemouth Acupuncture uses a targeted treatment for back pain. Whether the pain is coming from compromises in the disc (i.e. compression, bulging etc.) or from muscle imbalances (strains, tears, tightness, etc.) we always use Balance method Acupuncture to take care of the problem. This style of treating gives very fast relief, but also works on healing the problem area to give a long term solution.
The lower back is made up of these main components:
- Tendons and muscles and other soft tissues
- Highly sensitive nerves and nerve roots that travel from the lower back down into the legs and feet
- Small and complex joints
- Spinal discs with their gelatinous inner cores
An irritation or problem with any of these structures can cause lower back pain and/or pain that radiates or is referred to other parts of the body. Pain from resultant lower back muscle spasms can be severe, and pain from a number of syndromes can become chronic.
While lower back pain is extremely common, the symptoms and severity of lower back pain vary greatly. A simple lower back muscle strain might be excruciating enough to necessitate an emergency room visit, while a degenerating disc might cause only mild, intermittent discomfort.
Certain causes of lower back pain have a tendency to occur more often in younger individuals versus older adults:
- Younger adults (e.g. 30 to 60 year olds) are more likely to experience back pain from the disc space itself (e.g. lumbar disc herniation or degenerative disc disease) or from a back muscle strain or other soft tissue strain.
- Older adults (e.g. over 60) are more likely to suffer from pain related to joint degeneration (e.g. osteoarthritis or spinal stenosis) or from a compression fracture.
These lower back pain symptoms include any combination of the following:
- Difficulty moving that can be severe enough to prevent walking or standing
- Pain that does not radiate down the leg or pain that also moves around to the groin, buttock or upper thigh, but rarely travels below the knee;
- Pain that tends to be achy and dull
- Muscle spasms, which can be severe
- Local soreness upon touch
Possible causes: Back Muscle Strain
A back muscle strain or ligament strain is one of the most common causes of acute lower back pain. Lifting a heavy object, twisting, or a sudden movement can cause muscles or ligaments stretch or develop microscopic tears.
With a lower back strain, the severity of the pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe, disabling pain, depending on the extent of strain and the lower back muscle spasms that result from the injury.
Symptoms: Low back pain that travels to the buttock, leg and foot (sciatica)
Sciatica includes any combination of the following symptoms:
- Pain typically is ongoing (as opposed to flaring up for a few days or weeks and then subsiding)
- Pain may be worse in the leg and foot than in the lower back
- Typically felt on one side the buttock or leg only
- Pain that is usually worse after long periods of standing still or sitting: relieved somewhat when walking
- More severe (burning, tingling) vs. dull, aching pain
- May be accompanied by weakness, numbness or difficulty moving the leg or foot
Frequent cause: Lumbar herniated disc
Sciatica describes the symptoms caused when a nerve root in the lower spine is compressed, causing pain and numbness to travel along the large sciatic nerve that serves the buttocks, legs and feet.
In younger adults, sciatica can be caused by a wide range of conditions, most commonly a lumbar herniated disc (may also be caused by degenerative disc disease, isthmic spondylolisthesis, and other conditions).
Symptoms: Chronic lower back pain worsened by certain positions and movements.
Symptoms may include any combination of the following:
- Low-level of constant lower back pain punctuated by episodes of severe pain/muscle spasms lasting a few days to a few months
- Chronic pain can range from nagging to severe
- Back pain worsened by sitting
- Walking, even running, may feel better than sitting/standing
- Changing positions frequently relieves pain
Frequent cause: Degenerative disc disease
Lumbar degenerative disc disease can affect patients as young as 20. When the lumbar discs between the vertebrae begin to break down, the damaged disc can cause both inflammation and slight instability in the lower back, bringing about pain, muscle spasms, and sometimes sciatica.
Symptoms: Deep ache in the lower back that worsens when standing or walking
Symptoms may include any combination of the following:
- Pain that radiates into the buttocks and back of the thighs (also called sciatica or radicular pain)
- Pain that worsens when bending backwards
- Pain that feels better with sitting, especially sitting in a reclining position
- Tired feeling in the legs, and possibly leg numbness or tingling, especially after walking
- Tight hamstrings, making it difficult to touch toes
Possible cause: Isthmic spondylolisthesis
Isthmic spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra in the low back slips forward on the disc space below it. It is most common at the L5-S1 level and can cause low back pain from instability and nerve root pain due to compression of the nerve root.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Acupuncture & back pain please contact us.