Saturday, September 13, 2014

Major Physical Signs of Lower Back Pain


If you visit your doctor seeking lower back pain relief, they will likely ask you about your medical history along with the nature of the work you perform, your hobbies, and your general activities. This will give your doctor somewhat of a picture as to how the pain first began. A complete physical exam will typically follow.

Your age is also a contributing factor regarding the diagnosis of your back pain. People over the age of 50 years tend to suffer with back pain due to certain lifestyle issues including obesity, sedentary activities, and smoking. Those under 50 years of age are likely to sustain an injury relative to physical strain at work, while people 40 - 49 are more inclined to develop back pain due to sleep disorders or mental stress.


1. Inflammation

Back pain with inflammation poses symptoms that frequently come and go, feel different depending on the time of day, and are connected with pain in other areas including upper limbs, hips, and fingers.

2. Tumor

A tumor may be a good indicator of back pain. Apart from the back pain itself, correlating symptoms may include weight loss, general discomfort, vaginal bleeding, or gynecological cancers.

3. Weakness and Numbness

Weakness, numbness, and other acute symptoms may result due to serious back pain problems.

4. Infection

Infection associated with back pain includes symptoms such as fever and chills, appetite changes, and night sweats.

5. Trauma

Severe trauma resulting from a serious accident or injury is a strong indicator of back pain.


If both your medical history and physical exam do not clearly show the reason for your back pain, your doctor may perform a variety of diagnostic tests in order to find the cause. Some of these may include:


- X-rays

X-rays identify bone problems and any arthritis if present.

- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imagery)

An MRI is a unique radiology procedure designed to reveal the body's internal structures in order to illustrate any problems regarding soft tissues, bones, and blood vessels.

- CT (Computed Tomography)

A diagnostic device used to present views of internal structures of the body using X-rays.

- Nerve Blocks

A nerve block is a numbing agent or injectable anesthetic incorporated directly close to a nerve in order to block pain. It allows the doctors to determine the origin of the pain.

- Bone Scans

A procedure that utilizes a tiny measure of radioactive matter to produce bone images onto film or a computer screen. Although rarely used, this technique is able to identify compression fractures and bone tumors associated with osteoporosis.


Not every doctor assumes that lower back pain is entirely due to a physical cause. Lower back pain has sometimes been defined as a psychosomatic illness. Psychosomatic implies that the physical signs of back pain may be influenced or caused by certain thoughts or feelings.



The idea here is that it doesn't really matter where your pain symptoms originated from, help is indeed available. Visit your doctor to discuss your lower back pain symptoms and what may be causing your pain. Work with your doctor to devise a plan that will best suit your circumstances and relieve your pain as quickly as possible.

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