Low back pain

How common are serious causes of low back pain?

Serious spinal pathology is fortunately very rare and accounts for less than 1% of all back pain.

Things to look out for (occurring along with back pain):

  • Night pain, sweats, fever.

  • Unplanned weight loss.

  • Cauda equina (changes bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction)

  • Recent trauma or injury.

  • A single episode of back pain lasting more than 6 weeks.

Nerve root related low back pain

Nerve root related low back pain may involve vertebral discs, loss of disc height (degenerative changes), trauma and injury, or inflammatory factors related to other conditions.

Common symptoms

  • Low back pain, often on one side

  • Radicular pain (with or without low back pain!) in the thigh, calf or foot

  • Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg on the affected side

  • Loss of bladder or bowel function (rare but seek medical attention immediately)

Mechanical causes of low back pain

Mechanical low back pain, or non specific low back pain (NSLBP) accounts for a whopping 85% of all low back - and this is where we come in.

This large homogeneous group of conditions requires further classification and a deeper understanding of the issues unique to the individual suffering with this burden, in order to treat the individual to meet their unique needs and circumstances.

The symptoms for mechanical low back pain may vary greatly from person to person, but common features include:

  • Dull or aching low back pain.

  • Pain aggravated by prolonged sitting or standing.

  • Relief is often found with rest or a change in position.

  • Muscle stiffness, worse in the morning or after long periods of inactivity.

  • Sudden, involuntary tightening of the muscles in the lower back.

  • Intermittent pain symptoms that come and go.

  • Absence of neurological symptoms such as sciatica.