Sciatica Exercises. Understanding Low Back Pain. Lumbago is the general term referring to low back pain, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. The underlying causes of low back pain can be complex and are not always readily apparent. When determining the underlying cause of lower back pain, two main factors help guide the physician in making a preliminary diagnosis: The type of low back pain – meaning a description of how the pain feels, what makes it better or worse, when it occurs, andThe area of pain distribution – meaning where the pain is felt, if it is confined to the low back, or if the accompanying leg pain is worse than the low back pain, or if the pain radiates elsewhere in the body. This article is aimed at helping patients understand how physicians evaluate the area of pain distribution in helping to diagnose the source of a patient’s low back pain and determine initial treatment options. See Lower Back Pain Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Pain does not always reflect the extent of damage.
In This Article: Low Back Pain with Referred Pain. Low back pain with referred pain can vary widely with regards to severity and quality. It tends to be achy, dull and migratory (moves around). It tends to come and go and often varies in intensity. It can result from the identical injury or problem that causes simple axial back pain and is often no more serious. Area of Pain Distribution Referred pain is usually felt in the low back area and tends to radiate into the groin, buttock and upper thigh. Referred pain is analogous to the pain that radiates down the left arm during a heart attack.
An injury to any of these structures can cause pain to radiate – or be “referred” - to any of the other structures. Diagnosis of Referred Low Back Pain Unfortunately, the brain cannot determine the specific source of the pain. Article continues below Treatment of Referred Low Back Pain In general, referred pain is treated with the same types of nonsurgical care as axial back pain and will frequently diminish as the low back problem resolves. Spinal Stenosis.org. Spine-Health. Lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves at the level of the lumbar vertebra.
This is usually due to the common occurrence of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. It can also sometimes be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. In the cervical (neck) and lumbar (low back) region it can be a congenital condition to varying degrees. It is also a common symptom for those who suffer from various skeletal dysplasias such as with pseudoachondroplasia and achondroplasia at an early age. Spinal stenosis may affect the cervical or thoracic region in which case it is known as cervical spinal stenosis or thoracic spinal stenosis.
In some cases, it may be present in all three places in the same patient. Lumbar spinal stenosis results in low back pain as well as pain or abnormal sensations in the legs, thighs, feet or buttocks, or loss of bladder and bowel control. Signs and symptoms[edit]