Recently, we had a patient who came to us with low back pain. The sharp low back pain started in the morning and improved as the day went on. However, it always returned the next morning. The patient had been checked by their doctor. X-rays didn’t show anything and muscle relaxers offered only temporary relief. So, what’s causing this low back pain?
To understand what’s going on, it’s important to understand the spine. The spine is made up of vertebrae, which are stack like blocks and form your spine. These are your low back joints.
The pain could be coming from these joints. However, these bones are also held together by tissue, which is called ligaments that stabilize or secure these blocks in place. On top of those ligaments are muscles, which layer on top of your back in various different layers.
All of these layers could be playing a role in the pain.
The sharp pain could be coming from the joint either moving too much or too little. This causes irritation in the joints, which can irritate the ligaments and cause the back muscles to spasm. Back pain can be a combination of all three of these things. Treating only one piece of the puzzle usually does not bring relief.
The muscles of the back don’t work alone – they are connected to lots of other muscles that connect deep in to the spine, such as the diaphragm. All of these muscle connections can be contributing to the spasming in the back.
It’s important to address not just the muscles of the back, but all muscles that connect to the spine, which can include the rib cage, hip, pelvis and even the head and neck. All of these muscles need to be balanced to take the stress off of the ligaments and the joints.
If you’re experiencing persistent back pain, physical therapy might be able to help. Click here to schedule a complimentary phone consultation to discuss your symptoms with one of our physical therapists.
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