Conditions Associated With Low Back Pain

Diagnose Your Low Back Pain

By Jarrett Kruse

Because there are so many conditions associated with low back pain, it may be hard to get a handle what the source of your particular low back pain is. Sciatica often accompanies herniated discs, but so do other back pain symptoms. Proper back pain diagnosis may depend not only on tests, but on your ability to thoroughly describe your back pain to your healthcare professional. A correct diagnosis is key to the proper lower back pain treatment.

Whether pain is chronic or acute, focal or radiation, or aggravated by movement or rest are critical factors in diagnosing the underlying causes of back pain. You can recognize common symptoms of back pain and aid in identifying the condition that may be causing it. Here are some examples of common back pain symptoms and possible diagnoses associated with them:

Sciatica: pain along the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your hip and buttock and down the back of your leg and into your foot. This can be a sign of a herniated disc, “slipped” vertebra, strain of the pririformis muscles or other spinal problems.
Sharp, focal pain, increased by pressure. This can be a sign of a spinal tumor, but also something less serious, such as a herniated disc.
Nagging pain accompanied worsened by movement can mean osteoarthritis, herniated discs, osteoporosis, problems with spinal joints, or a number of other conditions
Sharp lower back pain in a spot where there’s been no injury can be a sign of a kidney tumor.

Of course it’s important not to overlook the obvious. see if the pain can be alleviated by changing your work chair or stretching thoroughly in the morning.