How To Tell If Back Pain Is Nerve Or Muscle

How To Tell If Back Pain Is Nerve Or Muscle

How To Tell If Back Pain Is Nerve Or Muscle

How Is Sciatica Treated

Low Back & Hip Pain? Is it Nerve, Muscle, or Joint? How to Tell.

The goal of treatment is to decrease your pain and increase your mobility. Depending on the cause, many cases of sciatica go away over time with some simple self-care treatments.

Self-care treatments include:

• Appling ice and/or hot packs: First, use ice packs to reduce pain and swelling. Apply ice packs or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to the affected area. Apply for 20 minutes, several times a day. Switch to a hot pack or a heating pad after the first several days. Apply for 20 minutes at a time. If youre still in pain, switch between hot and cold packs whichever best relieves your discomfort.
• Taking over-the-counter medicines: Take medicines to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. The many common over-the-counter medicines in this category, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen . Be watchful if you choose to take aspirin. Aspirin can cause ulcers and bleeding in some people. If youre unable to take NSAIDS, acetaminophen may be taken instead.
• Performing gentle stretches: Learn proper stretches from an instructor with experience with low back pain. Work up to other general strengthening, core muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises.

Treatment For Pinched Nerves

In most cases, pinched nerves are temporary. You may need only rest and conservative treatment. But sometimes pinched nerves are a sign of something more serious that could cause lasting damage. So its important to pay attention and seek help early if your symptoms are serious or dont improve.

If your pinched nerve pain is mild and recent, you can try:

• Rest the area thats hurting.
• Take an over-the-counter NSAID such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
• Alternate heat and ice to relax muscles and reduce swelling.

But if the pain is more serious or doesnt respond to home treatment, talk with your primary care doctor or pain management specialist. They may recommend:

• Exercise, stretching, or physical therapy
• A splint, collar, or other devices to isolate the affected area while you heal
• A steroid injection
• Surgery

How To Heal A Lumbar Pinched Nerve

There are a few possible causes for a pinched nerve .

But no matter the cause, there are 2 simple steps you have to take to NATURALLY cure your pinched nerve.

Do not fool yourself to think that it will go away or heal on its own and please do not start relying on dangerous pain medication to keep your sanity.

So, what did you find? A pinched nerve or a pulled muscle?

To your health and happiness,

Meital

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How To Relieve Sciatica Leg Pain

Ever get up feeling agonizing pain all the way from your upper thighs to your feet? Do you deal with nagging lower back pain that spreads out downward through your butt and will not appear to stop no matter what you try? You might be dealing with sciatic nerve pain, also called sciatica, which causes painful throbbing in the lower back and limbs. The pain radiates down the body and can be a symptom of spinal stenosis. Its also carefully related to piriformis syndrome since the piriformis muscle is near the sciatic nerve.

The problem all starts in the lower spine and can come and go, however one things typically particular when sciatic nerve pain raises its unsightly head, youre handling a whole lot of pain that can rapidly destroy your day. Considered that the sciatic nerve is the biggest single nerve in the body, this makes good sense.

The bright side exists are remedies for back pain that treat sciatic nerve pain and enhance spine health. What are these natural sciatica treatments, and what causes this incapacitating lower-body pain? Lets examine. Natural treatments for sciatica include:

Signs Of A Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues, which restricts the nerve and disrupts its function. When a nerve is pinched, the flow of nutrients to the nerve is reduced and the nerve membrane begins to lose its ability to transmit sensation to the brain. This causes the tingling, numbness, and radiating pain associated with pinched nerves.

Pinched nerves can occur:

• when the nerve exits the spine by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a bone spur, which compress the nerve root

• in the carpal tunnel due to swollen wrist tendons or ligaments

• in the back when a nerve in the lower part of the spine is compressed, causing sciatica pain

• in the neck causing shoulder pain and sharp pain, weakness, and tingling in one arm

• due to a muscle spasm or strain that applies pressure to the nerve

• due to trauma to the nerve

• Tingling and pins and needles sensation

• Sharp, burning pain

• Pain that radiates to other areas of the body

• No swelling

• Increase of discomfort when sleeping

• Tends to be chronic and lasts for extended period of time

• Located most often in arms, hands, legs, feet, back, and neck

If you are experiencing a pinched nerve, rest, alternate ice and heat to relieve pain, and engage in gentle stretching and movement. It is critical to see your physical therapist to safely reduce pinched nerve pain and gradually restore movement and function in the affected area.

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Symptoms Of Low Back Pain

These might range from a dull ache to a stabbing or shooting sensation. The pain may make it hard to move or stand up straight. Pain that comes on suddenly is âacute.â It might happen during sports or heavy lifting. Pain that lasts more than 3 months is considered âchronic.â If your pain is not better within 72 hours, you should consult a doctor.

Leg Pain From Back Disorders

Leg pain coming from the low back, or the lumbar spine, is commonly referred to as sciatica. Sciatica could involve pain in the buttocks, down the thigh, into the leg or in the foot. It is often associated with numbness or tingling, and sometimes weakness. Sciatica has multiple possible causes, such as:

• Herniated or ruptured disc
• Lumbar spinal stenosis

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What Can I Expect If I Have Been Diagnosed With Sciatica

The good news about sciatic pain is that it usually goes away on its own with time and some self-care treatments. Most people with sciatica get better without surgery, and about half of these recover from an episode fully within six weeks.

Be sure to contact your healthcare provider if your sciatica pain is not improving and you have concerns that you arent recovering as quickly as hoped.

Can A Strained Muscle Cause Nerve Damage

Muscle Pain Vs Nerve Pain | How Can You Tell The Difference Between Muscle Pain And Nerve Pain?

According to the Mayo Clinic, nerve injury can happen due to stretching or pressing on the nerve, and also as a result of conditions that affect the nerves, such as diabetes.

A muscle strain can irritate the local nerves, but it most likely wont cause severe nerve damage, such as a complete cut of the nerve.

Nerve damage from a pulled muscle will heal on its own.

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How Are Back And Neck Pain Treated

In many cases, acute back or neck pain may simply improve with some rest. Over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may also help with the discomfort. Try to move gently during this period, so that you won’t become stiff and lose mobility.

If you have chronic pain of your back and neck, try several remedies before considering surgery. These include:

• Hot or cold packs as advised by your healthcare provider
• Certain exercises to strengthen back and belly muscles and ease pain, such as stretching and flexing. Your healthcare provider can show you these exercises. Physical therapy can also help you find the correct exercises.
• Aerobic exercise may help with your overall fitness and strength.
• Certain anti-inflammatory medicines or muscle relaxants may be used, as advised by your provider.
• Sometimes your provider may suggest a brace or corset for extra support.
• Shots for pain relief in the area
• Nerve block. This eases pain signals from the affected nerve.
• Acupuncture
• Osteopathic manipulation

How To Tell If Your Sciatica Is Actually Piriformis Syndrome

Is your sciatica acting up, or do you have piriformis syndrome? You may be surprised at just how much these conditions get confused with one another. If you have chronic pain that radiates through your buttocks and lower back, it could mean that youre living with piriformis syndrome. Its not uncommon for these two conditions to be mistaken for each other. However, learning if you have piriformis syndrome can help you get on the right path for recovery. Lets take a closer look at understanding the difference between these conditions and what you can do about it.

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Is The Weight Of Pregnancy The Reason Why So Many Pregnant Women Get Sciatica

Its true that sciatica is common in pregnancy but increased weight is not the main reason why pregnant women get sciatica. A better explanation is that certain hormones of pregnancy cause a loosening of their ligaments. Ligaments hold the vertebrae together, protect the disks and keep the spine stable. Loosened ligaments can cause the spine to become unstable and might cause disks to slip, which leads to nerves being pinched and the development of sciatica. The babys weight and position can also add pressure to the nerve.

The good news is there are ways to ease sciatic pain during pregnancy, and the pain goes away after birth. Physical therapy and massage therapy, warm showers, heat, medications and other measures can help. If you are pregnant, be sure to follow good posture techniques during pregnancy to also ease your pain.

Sciatic Nerve Extends To Fortify Back Muscles

As you understand, the sciatic nerve runs to feet and legs, down through your buttocks. These sciatic nerve stretches may also boost the flexibility of your lower back and can help marshal your sciatic nerve. Initially, stay mild to yourself without feeling pain, as well as go just as far as possible. Slowly youll be in a position to extend more with exercise. Do these stretches one or more times a day.

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Can Sciatica Be Cured Permanently

If you are wondering, Is sciatica permanently curable? Then you will be glad to know that inflammation and burning secession gradually decreases.

In normal conditions, you will start to notice the improvement sign automatically within 4 to 6 weeks. But you need proper medication and exercise to get rid of sciatica forever.

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What Is Bone Pain

Bone pain is usually the result of arthritis and comes in the joints like the knees, ankles, or fingers. Bone pain, to a degree, is normal as we age. If you were to describe bone pain, there are a number of characteristics you could go to. Bone pain often appears in inactivity, can exhibit tenderness when you touch it, can present in stiffness in the joint, and can be uncomfortable during fluctuations in temperature. If any of these things make your pain levels worse, the likely origin is in the bone rather than muscle.

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Back Pain Is A Complicated Personal Experience

The intensity and manageability of pain are very different for every person. For example, one person with a herniated disc may experience excruciating pain while another person with the same condition has no symptoms at all. Similarly, a muscle strain can range from mild to debilitating.

See Pain Generated by the Spinal Disc

With some conditions, back pain can flare up and then subside, only to flare up again after a few weeks or months and gradually intensify over time. Because only you know your level of pain, your treatment will most likely be more successful if you are an active participant in making decisions about your medical care.

Your back is subjected to various strong forces throughout the day, such as from twisting, sudden jolts, or poor posture when sitting hunched over. Any of your spines many interconnected and overlapping structures are capable of becoming injured and producing back pain. Common anatomical causes of back pain include:

• Large muscles that support the spine
• Spinal nerves that exit the spinal canal and may go to the legs or elsewhere
• Facet joints that connect the vertebrae along the back of the spine
• Intervertebral discs that provide shock-absorption for the bones

For more information, see Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain.

Bones, ligaments, tendons, and other anatomic structures are also capable of causing back pain.

See Causes of Lower Back Pain

Back Pain Vs Sciatica: How Can You Tell

How to tell if your back pain is muscle or disc related

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, approximately 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes. Although there are many risk factors and causes, sciatica is one of the top types of pain people experience. Sciatica is also one of the most misunderstood back conditions because patients often referred to it as back pain even though the pain runs down the back of the legs through the sciatic nerve.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica can be painful and definitely gives you a reason to see a physician quickly once you are experiencing it. However, it is also an easily misdiagnosed issue if you are self-assessing your options for pain management. Though sometimes occurring at the same time, sciatic pain isnt necessarily interchangeable with back pain. Sciatica is a result of irritation from a bulging or herniated disc that applies pressure to the nerve roots formed along the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can only occur where the sciatic nerve travel, which starts in your lower spine and continues down the back of your leg by way of your pelvis.

If you have sciatica, you may find youre experiencing pain whenever a muscle in your lower body contracts. This is a result of the irritated sciatic nerve traveling through tight gluteal muscles when they are compressed. The squeezing of the sciatic nerve is what results in a painful experience.

It goes beyond back pain

Put it to the test

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When Should You Call The Doctor About Foot Drop

If you are having trouble moving your feet, or you notice that you are adjusting the way you walk in order to avoid dragging your toes, contact your doctor. He or she will examine you to determine whether you have foot drop.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/09/2018.

References

Are Restless Leg Syndrome Multiple Sclerosis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Plantar Fasciitis Shingles Or Bursitis Related To Sciatica

While all these conditions affect either the spinal cord, nerves, muscles, ligaments or joints and all can cause pain, none are directly related to sciatica. The main causes of these conditions are different. Sciatica only involves the sciatic nerve. That being said, the most similar condition would be carpal tunnel syndrome, which also involves a compression of a nerve.

A final word about sciatica. . . .

Most cases of sciatica do not require surgery. Time and self-care treatment are usually all thats needed. However, if simple self-care treatments do not relieve your pain, see your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can confirm the cause of your pain, suggest other treatment options and/or refer you to other spine health specialists if needed.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/25/2020.

References

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How Long Should I Try Self

Every person with sciatic pain is different. The type of pain can be different, the intensity of pain is different and the cause of the pain can be different. In some patients, a more aggressive treatment may be tried first. However, generally speaking, if a six-week trial of conservative, self-care treatments like ice, heat, stretching, over-the-counter medicines has not provided relief, its time to return to a healthcare professional and try other treatment options.

Other treatment options include:

Symptoms Of A Pinched Nerve

A pinched nerve in the low back usually is perceived as radiating down the leg. Here again, the symptoms the person experiences seem to be traveling into the leg along the usual path. This is the basis of referred pain.

Muscle spasm in the back commonly accompanies pinched nerves and can be quite painful.

Sometimes, nerves can be pinched and the only symptoms may be numbness and weakness in the arm or leg without pain. Other symptoms include tingling, burning, electric, and a hot/cold sensation.

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Accurate Diagnosis Is Key

If your physician examines your hip joint and notes no hip pain, and then examines your back and notes leg pain, the spine is usually the source of the problem. Some people may have localized hip pain without leg pain, but are found to have a normal hip and an abnormal spine. Others may have only leg pain, but are found to have an abnormal hip and a normal spine. Therefore, in addition to a good physical examination, imaging is important. Plain X-rays may be helpful, but sometimes an MRI is needed as well. If imaging does not determine the source of the pain, the next step would typically be to perform an injection of pain-relieving medication directly into the area suspected of causing pain. Whether you get pain relief from the injection can help your physician better understand where the pain is coming from.

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