How to tell if back pain is muscle or disc

Last updated on January 4th, 2021 at 10:59 am

How to tell if back pain is muscle or disc? To answer this question we first need to understand the basics of back pain. It will help you in distinguishing between good exercise and bad exercise.

The Internet is flooded with information about sciatica exercises, but one should be careful that not all exercises are valid. In fact, the authenticity of the source itself is in the question. Every third person, even though not qualified health professional, claims himself /herself a guru of sciatica treatment.

Remember, a wrong exercise will do more bad to your back pain than anything else.

How to tell if back pain is muscle or disc

After 11 years of professional dedication and successfully dealing with back pain, I have come up with a few simple steps to recognize the type of back pain you might be suffering from.

These steps are very simple. It can give you a broader picture of the actual problem on your back. But do keep in mind that that this is not a replacement of professional medical investigation.

So before moving ahead, let us first discuss types of back pain.

To simplify it, back pain can be broadly classified under two subheadings.

1. Localised back pain.
2. Back pain with radiation to lower leg.

Localised back pain

In localized back pain, the pain is only felt in and around the lower back. The person complains of pain and tenderness only around the lower back region. The localized back pain could be due to muscle spasm or trigger points.

Usually, this type of pain is very old (muscle spasm is an exception, which develops instantaneously) they do not start all of a sudden and it develops slowly with the time.

If I ask for the exact day when you started this back pain perhaps you may recollect it. This is because this type of pain is usually very old they develop slowly with time.

Some of the important cause of such pain is:

• Sitting habitually in the wrong posture.
• Often associated with professions like a truck driver, whose profession involves long hours of driving in a single sitting position.

But, good thing is that it can easily be managed if you regularly do a few effective back pain exercises at home. And if you visit your physiotherapist they will apply IFT treatment and Ultrasonic treatment.

Back pain with radiation to lower leg

In this type, pain in addition to the lower back is also felt (referred to) on the lower leg. It means the sufferer will have low back pain and also a complaint of pain (with burning and pulling sensation) radiating down to the legs. It could be on one single leg or both the leg simultaneously.

Pain radiating to the leg is a red flag indicating possible internal neuronal involvement. You may also feel a sudden sharp pain in lower back when bending over. Most probably it could be due to sciatica.

Once you have found symptoms of sciatica you should become very cautious. Even you must follow the proper way of getting out of bed in back pain.

Guide to recognizing your back pain.

So, how to tell if back pain is muscle or disc? First, try to observe your pain and ask yourself these questions.

• Do I feel pain only on the back?
• Is there any kind of pain other than the lower back pain?
• Am I feeling any pulling sensation or tingling sensation on my legs?
• Do I feel uncomfortable during walking or standing on my legs?

If you have come up with the answers, then again ask these questions.

• When did my pain start?
• Am I able to remember the exact day when my pain started?
• How did it start?

Did it start on its own or while lifting a heavyweight, during jumping or twisting (try to associate incident that could have triggered your pain)?

Note down your answers on a piece of paper. Try to evaluate and compare it with the probable answers given below.

You might come across one of the two following answers.

You only have pain concentrated on your lower back and unable to recollect the exact day or incident which triggered the pain.

The second condition is, you have pain on your back and you also feel pulling sensation or painful tingling sensation on the lower legs. It could be a right leg or left leg and you can easily associate with the incident. The incident could be a jerk, twisting, jumping and lifting a heavyweight or anything like this.

So what’s your answer?

Before we proceed, let me once again repeat our main question, how to tell if back pain is muscle or disc?

If your answer is the first one, then you are on a safer side. This pain can easily be managed with few effective tips. We have got some most effective pain relieving tips and techniques in our chapter, you can apply it and see your pain vanishing in no time.

But if second point is your answer, then it’s a matter of concern. You might be suffering from a neurological problem known as sciatica.

Once again, let me remind you that this is not a replacement of professional medical investigation. you should take professional help to get fully diagnosed and pinpoint the cause of pain.

Learn more on sciatica

This article is an extract from my book “Sciatica Relieved”. You will find everything related to sciatica in this book. If you are a sciatica sufferer I would highly recommend getting it as soon as possible.

Keep reading: Sciatica pain relief: Dummies guide that actually works

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Sunit. S. Ekka

Dr Sunit Sanjay Ekka is a physiotherapist in practice for the last 15 years. He has done his BPT from one of the premium Central Government physiotherapy colleges, ie, SVNIRTAR. The patient is his best teacher and whatever he gets to learn he loves to share it on his Youtube channel and blog.