Back pain, and especially lower back pain, is one of the most prevalent causes of discomfort & disability and absence from work in Canada.
While back pain can be caused by an injury, such as; a fall at work, lifting heavy objects, helping friends move houses, sport and exercise or car accidents. Other causes can be abnormal posture, inadequate strength and flexibility. The pain can arise from structures like discs, ligaments, joints and muscles, but it is most commonly not due to any major injury to these structures.
While Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis itself, it is a commonly described symptom by Lower Back Pain patients.
The Sciatic Nerve is formed in the lumbar spine and travels down the posterior part of your leg up to the foot. For various reasons, this nerve may become entrapped, irritated, compressed or inflamed. This can lead to pain and various other symptoms which could become disabling at times. You may be feeling pain that is described as sharp, shooting or burning down your leg, constant pain in your buttock area or other neurological symptoms.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction is the name given to pain and symptoms that arise from the joint in your buttock area. This can cause sitting sensitivity problems. It is estimated that up to 30% of lower back pain arises from the Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction.
The Sacroiliac Joints are the joints that connect the wedge-shaped sacrum to each pelvic bone. The Sacroiliac joints are designed to absorb and transfer your weight from your legs to your spine when walking, because of this they are strong and stable.
Lumbar Nerve Root Irritation is when your nerve become sensitised or irritated as they exit the opening in your spine.
This can be because of changes in structural changes, like arthritis or osteophytes forming, and it can also be due to inflammation caused by the repetitive strain of soft tissue structures in your lower back. When this happens, the nerve roots become irritated and pain can be felt down your leg. You may also feel changes in sensation, like numbness, tingling or pins and needles.
Lumbar Nerve Root Compression or Lumbar Radiculopathy refers to pain or neurological symptoms that arise from compression of the nerve root as it leaves the spine to travel down the leg.
The pain that arises is commonly felt in the leg and is commonly referred to as sciatica or lumbago. Weakness, numbness or other neurological symptoms may also be present.
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