Although back pain is among the most commonly occurring types of back discomfort, there are actually several different categories of this discomfort. Radicular pain, otherwise known as stabbing or shooting pain in the back is most often associated with muscles, ligaments, and disc problems. These types of problems are typically easy to remedy, although you may want to seek medical help if you have been experiencing problems with this type of pain for a long time.
While lower back pain isn’t usually thought to be associated with one ailment or another, it is often just a symptom of another problem. Spasms in the muscles of your midsection may result in sharp pain, which radiates down the back of your leg. Weak discs in your lower back may result in irritation that radiates down your leg as well.
Shooting and throbbing pain are referred pain. This is a symptom that can easily be confused with a pulled muscle, and it can even be referred to as sciatica. On occasion, degenerative disc conditions cause dull but dull pain along with numbness in the legs. Usually, this is not a symptom that is caused by one particular condition, but rather by muscle weakness that leads to a more severe problem.
Sciatica refers to damage or pressure to the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body. If this nerve is damaged, it may lead to numbness and even pain in the legs. Another way this can occur is if there is spinal stenosis. This is a spinal condition that can cause compression in your spinal cord, causing dull but severe back pains. Spinal stenosis is caused by various problems, including spinal tumors, herniated discs, and spinal injuries.
One of the best ways to deal with sciatica is to take pain relievers that are not steroidal. Steroid medications are used for cases of acute back pain because they immediately relieve the pain felt in the back area and work to relax the muscles in the leg. However, if the pain continues or worsens you should consult your doctor to see if there is an underlying cause. The symptoms for this condition often mimic those of a heart attack, so you should definitely call 911 if you have any of these symptoms. For more serious problems, such as spinal stenosis, you should talk to your doctor immediately, since these symptoms could indicate that a more serious problem is occurring.
When looking at the different types of back pain, you will notice that there are many symptoms that occur. Your doctor will be able to properly identify the problem and provide the best solution for the issue. If you suffer from leg nerve pain or refer pain, you may receive a referral to a specialist such as a neurosurgeon. Neurosurgeons can perform spinal surgery and other procedures that can help alleviate the symptoms associated with these types of conditions. Your doctor will be able to give you the best treatment for the situation, so that you no longer feel discomfort or pain in your legs.
