People suffering from lower back pain and sciatica can experience:
- trouble bending down forward
- pain when get in and out of your car
- difficulty stand up straight after sitting
- increased tightness and stiffness in the lower back first thing in the morning
- discomfort when they sneeze, cough or laugh
- Muscle spasms
Common causes of lower back pain and sciatica
Common stressor usually are found in your environment, lifestyle and habits.
- Heavy lifting
- Awkward repetitive movements
- Genetics (bone shape)
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Excess weight
- Poor posture
- Leg length differences
- Walking or running gait issues
- Wear and tear (age related)
Misconceptions about Lower Back Pain
Many people think that lower back pain is age related. While this may be true in some cases, many older people never experience any back conditions. Therefore, age is not always a contributing factor.
Another misconception is to assume you must have had an injury to start having back pain. With 60-70% of people experience lower back pain at some point in their life not all have had a lower back injury.
Associated Conditions
- Disc Bulge or Herniation (Rupture)
- Facet Joint Inflammation
- Sciatica – pain shooting down the back of your leg
- Lower back muscle imbalance
- Lower back arthritic changes
Traditionally, people may try applying heat, ice, stretching, massaging the painful area and medication. These treatment options can be ineffective as they are not addressing the cause of the condition.