If you are looking for ways to decrease your pain at home, this guide will show you how to release your body (including your lower back) at home with just a tennis ball and foam roller.
Back pain is a common complaint amongst every population. It can be debilitating, annoying, frustrating and very painful. Although the severity levels differ according to the type of injury, most back pain will cause a lot of interruption to your life. One of the biggest causes of back pain in a pinched nerve in back. Considering the amount of nerves that run through the area, only small biomechanical problems can make this injury appear.
What Are The Causes Of A Pinched Nerve In The Back?
Basically a pinched nerve in the back is caused when too much pressure is placed on the nerve by the tissues surrounding it. This can be ligaments, vertebrae, muscles and other structures. The nerve becomes impinged, and as a results you start suffering from symptoms. Specifically, in the back some common causes are:
- Herniated Disc or Bulging Disc: The disc will place pressure onto the nerve in this case.
- Arthritis: Degeneration of the vertebrae occurs in arthritis, and surrounding structures will be affected.
- Bone Spurs: Bones spur may occur and place pressure onto the nerve.
- Spinal Stenosis: This occurs then the canal where the nerves pass through becomes smaller.
- Obesity: Extra weight can place a lot of pressure onto the spine.
- Poor Posture: Having back posture will place a lot of pressure on the tissues in the lower back, a consequence of this may be a pinched nerve. Usually is only temporary and is fixed with posture correction.
What Are The Pinched Nerve In Back Symptoms?
One of the biggest symptoms of pinched nerve in lower back is sciatica. The sciatic nerve is often compressed in this area, and as a result you will suffer the symptoms of sciatica. In more general terms here are the symptoms of a pinched nerve in the back. Note that most of these symptoms you will feel in your back and down your leg.
- Pain: May radiate down the back and leg and can be in different forms.
- Numbness
- Tingling/ Pins and Needles/ Other Skin sensations
- Weakness in the muscles: The nerve innovating the muscle is compressed, so you may lose the ability to produce force.
- Muscle Spams: Painful muscle spasms and back spasms may be a result of a pinched nerve in the back.
How Can You Treat A Pinched Nerve In Lower Back?
Ultimately you need rest to treat the pain and the inflammation that may be present. In some cases injections are used to help as well, when medication such as anti inflammatories are not enough. Only in a small amount of cases is surgery a necessary intervention. A lower back pinched nerve can also be treated with physical therapy, and is a very important part of the recovery process. You need to get your proper body mechanics back, especially if the cause of your pinched nerve is a postural problem. Muscle imbalances will need to be corrected, and stretches and exercises to loosen and strengthen the area will be provided. You may need to lose weight to reduce the pressure you feel.
If you are looking for ways to decrease your pain at home, this guide will show you how to release your body (including your lower back) at home with just a tennis ball and foam roller.