Symptoms and Causes of Lower Back Pain

In half of the cases where a doctor sees a patient for treatment or diagnosis of lower back pain, most of the time someone lifted something heavy or pulled a muscle and there is nothing serious. But the other half of the time, lower back pain can be diagnosed in many different ways. Your general practitioner may diagnose you or if you are referred to a chiropractor then they can give you their medical opinion as well. One of the most common causes of lower back pain comes from the nerves in your back called Sciatica. The diagnoses comes from medical history, a physical exam and either an X-Ray or a MRI.

Leg Differential

Did you know that 90 percent of people on this earth have a leg differential. This simply means that one leg is slightly or in some cases more so shorter than the other. Depending on the different between the left and the right leg, it can cause some lower back pain as well. This is something than you can find out on your own. Simple have someone measure your entire leg from the hip to the soles of your feet and see if they are the same length.

Internal Hip Rotation

Internal Hip Rotation can be diagnosed early as well. You lie flat on your stomach with your legs together and then bend your knees 90 degrees, keep your knees together move apart your feet. The lower part of your legs should form a V shape. The doctor will measure your the angle of the lower leg, they should be 45 degrees apart. A bit more if you play golf or tennis. You can even do this test at home, have someone measure your legs.

Keep in mind that these are just some of the causes of lower back pain. There are other causes as well. There is what doctors call mechanical which can include Fractures, Leg Length Differential, Misaligned Pelvis and Spinal Stenosis. Then there is the Inflammatory causes which include Rheumatoid Arthritis and Infection. Other causes of lower back pain are Paget’s Disease, Bone Tumors, Osteoporotic Fractures and Pelvic and Abdominal Diseases. Obesity and Pregnancy can also be factors to temporary lower back pain.

Don’t panic if you are experiencing lower back pain, it is very common and if you get it taken care of right away by going to the doctor and having it diagnosed then you will fare better in the long run.