Any number of symptoms could indicate a back injury. You can experience a sudden pain, a dull aching feeling, or tingling or burning. You might not be able to move at all due to the intense pain, or it could be very little.
You might also experience pain in your hip, leg, or bottom of your foot, depending on what is causing your back discomfort. Additionally, you can be weak in your feet and legs.
Causes Of Sharp Pain In Lower Back
A sharp pain in the lower back could be a red flag for underlying health issues, ranging from muscle strain to spinal abnormalities.
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Muscle Strain
Lower back pain is most frequently caused by strained muscles. When a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn, a strain occurs. Usually, sports-related injuries or specific activities like lifting a big package are the cause of them. Muscle spasms, which can hurt like sudden, intense shocks, can also be brought on by muscle strains.
Additional signs of lower back muscular tension include:
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Muscular soreness
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Rigidity
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Moving with effort
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Discomfort that travels down your legs or buttocks
Most muscle strains heal on their own in a few weeks. You can try using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to assist in controlling your discomfort in the interim. It could also be beneficial to apply an ice pack or heating pad to your lower back several times a day.
Although various disorders can cause lower back discomfort, the most common reason is muscle strain.
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Spinal Conditions
In both adults and children, certain spinal disorders including lordosis or spinal stenosis can also result in excruciating lower back pain. Your spine’s gaps narrow as a result of spinal stenosis, which hurts.
Lordosis is the term for your spine’s natural S-shaped curvature. Some people, on the other hand, have pain due to a more pronounced curvature.
Other signs of a spinal ailment consist of:
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Feet or legs experiencing tingling or numbness.
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soreness in the lower back
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Leg cramps
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Insufficiency in the feet or legs
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Discomfort when shifting
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Infections
Sharp lower back pain can also be caused by spinal infections. Although it can potentially infect your spine, tuberculosis (TB) is most commonly associated with the lungs. Although spinal TB is uncommon in modern nations, individuals with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to contracting the disease.
Although it is relatively uncommon, an abscess on your spinal cord can also form. A sufficiently large abscess may begin to compress neighboring nerves. This can result from several factors, such as surgical problems or injuries involving foreign objects.
Apart from excruciating agony that could travel down your arms and legs, spinal infections can also result in:
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Spasms in the muscles
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Soreness, and stiffness.
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Fever
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Inability to control bowel or bladder.
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Your body’s aortic artery passes through the center. An abdominal aortic aneurysm develops when a portion of the arterial wall weakens and enlarges. This may occur gradually over time or abruptly.
Signs and Symptoms include:
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A back pain that can occasionally be acute or abrupt
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A abdominal discomfort on the side or in the middle
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A throbbing sensation surrounding your stomach
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Arthritis
Your back may be impacted by many forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA). This can lead to wear down of the cartilage between your vertebrae, which can be unpleasant.
Other indications that you have back arthritis include:
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Stiffness that disappears when you move
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Ache that, by day’s end, becomes worse
Treatments
When you first experience discomfort, take the appropriate action to speed up your recovery.
The following advice can help you deal with pain:
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Don’t engage in any regular exercise over the first few days. This will lessen any swelling in the pain location and assist in symptom relief.
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Put cold or heat on the sore spot. Using ice for the first 48 to 72 hours and then heat is a useful strategy.
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Use over-the-counter analgesics such acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Observe the dosage recommendations on the packaging. Never take more than the suggested dosage.
Try resting in a fetal position with a pillow between your legs while you sleep. If you typically sleep on your back, take the strain off your knees by placing a pillow or rolled towel beneath them.
A prevalent misconception regarding back pain is that it necessitates extended periods of rest and inactivity. Resting on your bed is not advised. You should continue to be as active as possible if there are no signs of a major cause for your back pain, such as weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or weight loss. It is crucial to keep your stomach and back muscles from weakening too much.
You should limit your activities over the initial few days only. After that, gradually resume your regular activities. For the first six weeks following the onset of pain, avoid doing any strenuous lifting or twisting of the back. It’s recommended that you resume exercising gradually after two to three weeks.
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Start with some mild aerobic exercise. Walking, swimming, and stationary cycling are excellent examples. These exercises help facilitate recovery and increase blood flow to your back. They also build stronger back and stomach muscles.
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Physical therapy could be beneficial for you. Your healthcare practitioner can recommend a physical therapist or decide if you don’t need to see one. First, the physical therapist will employ techniques to lessen your discomfort. The therapist will next instruct you on how to avoid experiencing back discomfort in the future.
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Exercises for strengthening and stretching are crucial. However, beginning these workouts too soon after becoming hurt will exacerbate your discomfort. You can learn when and how to start stretching and strengthening exercises from a physical therapist.
Your primary care physician might refer you to a physiatrist (an expert in rehabilitation), an orthopedist (a specialist in bones), or a neurologist (a specialist in nerves) if your pain persists for more than a month.
Your doctor, especially if they are a back pain doctor in Dallas, might suggest an epidural injection if you have tried medications, physical therapy, and other therapies without relief from your pain.
You may also consider:
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A licensed massage practitioner.
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A practitioner of acupuncture.
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A spinal manipulator, such as a physical therapist, osteopathic physician, or chiropractor.
Occasionally, a few consultations with these experts will alleviate back discomfort.
When To Consult a Doctor?
There are instances in which a person ought to speak with a physician, such as consulting pain physicians in Dallas for specialized care and advice.
● sometimes using home remedies to cure the pain is not effective
● when an undiagnosed ache persists for more than a few days
● when they feel weak or tingly in their legs
People should record any symptoms as soon as they manifest so they can inform their physician. The patient will probably be asked to explain their symptoms and the duration of their occurrences by the doctor. To pinpoint the precise location of the back discomfort and identify its underlying cause, they could also ask the patient to do a series of motions. In certain situations, the physician might also request imaging tests, including MRIs or X-rays, to aid in the diagnosis.
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