Have you ever wondered if back and leg pain are somehow connected?  It’s not an unusual concern since many people who have Back Pain notice that their legs are typically also aching and stiff, and those with leg problems find that their back is often in pain as well.As you know, its normal for back pain and leg pain to happenen seperate from one another but they could be connected.If you are wondering why this is and what you can do about it, keep reading?

The reason that back and leg pain are connected is because the back and legs are connected!  The muscles in the back are connected to the leg muscles in the area of the hips, and the back muscles actually work every time you move your legs.  If you stretch or pull the leg muscles or cause any damage to them your back muscles are going to work overtime or in a way that they’re not meant to work in order to make up for this.  Very often you can have back and leg pain when you twist an ankle or pull a hamstring as the back is wrenched or pulled as well.  The back muscles are only meant to work so hard or in such a way to make the legs work, and when there’s a leg injury the back is forced to work in an unnatural way to make up for this.

The fact that the back and the legs work in harmony is another reason that back and leg pain are connected.  If you twist your back or pull a muscle in the lower back then your leg muscles may get twisted and pulled when you walk or move your legs at all.  Movement of just about any nature can cause both back and leg pain when you have Back Pain or have hurt your back in any way.

The nerves of the legs are also connected to the nerves in the back, which can cause back and leg pain as well.  An injury or defect in the back can send pain shooting down the leg via the shared nerves.

It’s also true that when we walk, the back muscles are supposed to absorb some of that shock of the legs hitting the ground.  Unfortunately we often wear shoes that are inadequate to do this especially when jogging or exercising, and this can cause back and leg pain.  That shock of hitting the pavement goes up the leg and hits the back.  Women especially who wear high heeled shoes can be guilty of this.

There are many reasons that back and leg pain are connected and while some of these reasons cannot be avoided, others can with some simple changes.Injuries are everywhere and its very important to always thing about protecting your back no matter what you are doing.  This means being careful when lifting heavy objects, making sure you exercise in a proper form, and doing whatever else is necessary.

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If you have severe lower back pain, you know how debilitating it can be. It can make it almost impossible to do anything, and you can only think about how much it hurts.

In the old days, they used to put a person on bed rest for a few weeks, or suggest operating on the back. Unfortunately, while doctors meant well, these suggestions were the worst possible ways to treat the severe lower back pain. The muscles atrophy and the body loses mobility. Now, there are different recommendations to treat lower back pain, whether severe or moderate.

Treatments Better Than Surgery

First of all, when the back begins to hurt it is wise to apply a cold compress to the back. This can reduce pain and inflammation, and help maintain mobility in the back. An easy way to do this is to use a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. This ice can be applied several times during the first day, for up to twenty minutes at a time. After a couple of days of cold treatment, heat can be used, like with a rice sack or heating pad. This treatment can relax the muscles and increase the flow of blood to the injured area, promoting healing. A warm bath can also be soothing.

Bed rest can be used, but not alone and not for extended periods. In studies, it has been found that continuing activities without bed rest after back pain can help the back maintain flexibility. Also, it was found that bed rest alone could make the lower back pain more severe and lead to other complications (like blood clots in legs, depression and loss of muscle tone). It is much better to get back to regular activities as soon as possible. At night or while resting, lie on one side with a pillow between the knees, or on the back with a pillow under the knees.

Exercise! Particularly before it becomes severe lower back pain. Exercise will strengthen the back and abdominal muscles, and that is the key. Generally doctors recommend stretching exercises, walking and swimming. Yoga can also help by stretching the muscles and strengthening the body. Usually, a bit of exercise is a great lower back pain treatment, but if the pain increases, stop exercising and consult your medical practitioner.

Many people find relief of moderate to severe lower back pain by visiting a chiropractor. A chiropractor is trained in the ways to adjust the body and manipulate the spine to fix misalignments that can lead to lower back pain.

Medicines are often heavily relied on to treat severe lower back pain. Sometimes, the medical practitioner will recommend a combination of over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Be sure to check with your doctor to know that they are safe for you.

Common Drugs To Combat Severe Lower Back Pain

Analgesics (like aspirin or ibuprofen), are taken orally, and help reduce inflammation. Counter-irritants (applied as a spray or cream) stimulate the nerve endings on the skin to feel warm or cold, and dull the pain. Topical analgesics can also reduce inflammation and help with blood flow. Antidepressants can be used to dull the pain and elevate the person’s mood.

Opioids – like codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine – should only be used for the most severe lower back pain, and only for a short amount of time, while under a doctor’s care. These have many side effects, making this less ideal for treating back pain than some other options.

Tags: severe lower back pain

When it comes to lower back pain symptoms, it helps to know the causes. While the solution may be the same regardless of the cause, for some causes there are other options for relief. Some are temporary other offer more permanent relief.

The lower back has bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles and disks. There can be problems with any of these things. And in some people, no certain cause is ever found. In those cases, relief is freedom from pain.

The First S – Strains

The most common reason for lower back pain symptoms is damage caused by heavy lifting, a sudden movement that jerked the back a certain, awkward, way or strained muscles or ligaments. A muscle spasm can also give one lower back pain symptoms.

The Second S – Structural Issues

There are some structural things that can cause lower back pain symptoms. These include: sciatica, bulging or ruptured disks, osteoporosis and skeletal irregularities of the spine such as scoliosis, and arthritis.

Sciatica is caused by a disk in the spine pressing on a main nerve that runs the length of the leg. It is felt as a sharp, shooting, pain, usually running through the buttock and down the leg. Sciatica can be felt as very severe lower back pain. Disks that are not performing the way they should can cause a lot of lower back pain symptoms. Disks in the spine are supposed to be the cushions between the vertebrae. If the disk bulges or ruptures it can push on a nerve and be very painful.

Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones are brittle and porous. This can lead to compression fractures of the vertebrae, leading to more pain in the lower back. If the spine curves in a different way, it can cause lower back pain symptoms. One condition where the spine curves to the side is scoliosis. If the spine curves too much in any of its curves, it can cause back pain.

With arthritis, there can be many lower back pain symptoms if the person has spinal stenosis. This is caused by arthritis in the spine, narrowing the space for the spinal cord. Arthritis can also be in the hips, hands and knees. All of these conditions, once diagnosed, can be treated appropriately.

The Third S – Serious

There are a few rare yet serious conditions that can lead to lower back pain symptoms. If there is a tumor on the spine, it can push against a nerve and cause back pain. If there is an infection in the spine, one will have a fever and warmth in the area of the pain. Finally, there is a neurological problem that can affect the nerve roots for the legs and lower back. With this condition (cauda equine syndrome) there will be weakness in the legs, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, and numbness in the saddle or groin area.

Tags: lower back pain symptoms, sciatica symptoms, symptoms of lower back problems

There is nothing more invasive on our daily lives than suddenly having lower back muscle pain. It can be anything from a twinge to a debilitating attack, leaving us wanting to die. Let’s take a look at the answers to six pertinent questions.

Who Gets Lower Back Muscle Pain?

Almost everyone. Studies show that four out of five of us will have back pain at some time in our lives. Fortunately, for most the lower back pain symptoms are comparatively mild, and we can still function in our lives. But for a few, it is worse, almost debilitating.

What Are The Types Of Lower Back Muscle Pain?

There are two primary types of muscles injuries in the lower back that can causes pain, strains and sprains. The stretching or tearing of the actual muscle fibers causes a muscle strain. This type of injury is also called a pulled muscle. It can happen from not warming up the muscles before expecting hard work from them, because the muscle is too weak or because the muscle was already damaged and not allowed to heal thoroughly.

A sprain of the muscle happens when the ligaments, the fibrous tissue that connects bones to each other, are torn from where they attach. Generally, the ligaments are very tough, but sudden movement like twisting a certain way can sprain the ligaments.

Both types of injury are similar and both the symptoms and treatments are similar as well. Consequently, knowing exactly which type of injury you are dealing with isn’t important, just treat it. However, a muscle strain is far more likely than a sprain in the lower back.

When Can I Get Out Of Bed?

In the past, doctors recommended bed rest for those suffering from a lower back muscle pain. Now, however, research has shown that lying in bed more than a couple of days can aggravate the problem, as the muscles atrophy and grow stiff. So, while you may want to rest more than just two or three days, be prepared to get back up and stretch out that back. lower back pain exercises are good for those muscles.

Where Will I Feel The Pain?

While all parts of the back can have muscle pain, the lower back is most common. Pain can also be within the buttock.

Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Whenever there is damage to the muscles or ligaments, like being torn or stretched beyond capacity, there will be inflammation and swelling. Sometimes there are spasms also within the soft tissues. If the body is not allowed to rest, but instead the person continues with the activity, the injury is not allowed to heal and the pain will be aggravated. It is best to let the body rest at the first sign of lower back muscle pain.

How Can I Tell If I Am Predisposed Toward Back Pain?

There are several predisposing factors for back pain. A few are scoliosis (curvature of the spine), short leg syndrome and being middle aged. If you have had a back injury before, you are more likely to have another injury. During pregnancy or other time of weight gain, your body is more vulnerable to injury. Of course, having a job where you are involved in repetitive motions (bending, twisting, stretching…) also puts one more at risk.

Tags: lower back muscle pain

If you find yourself in a battle with lower back and hip pain, you don’t have to let them win the battle. It’s quite common to have it, but that doesn’t make you feel any less pain. You just happen to be one of the four in five people that spend hours of agony from this affliction at some point in their life. There are many different causes that lead to the pain and many of these are treatable. That’s the good news.

When you go to the doctor, they’ll ask specific questions about your pain. Some of the questions revolve around the length of time you’ve suffered with the pain, other questions center on the frequency of the pain and it’s intensity. This allows the doctor to categorize the pain into one of three areas. Often pain that comes but doesn’t last past three months, except back pain in pregnant women, which lasts longer but ends after the birth of the child, is acute pain and the most common type. Often people with acute lower back and hip pain don’t need the services of the doctor and bed rest mixed with mild exercise later, works out the problem.

Simple acute pain may come back at various times. This changes the classification from acute to recurrent pain. If you find yourself in that situation, you need to take stock in what caused it originally. Often you can play detective and find similar actions or situations and learn to avoid them to prevent further problems.

Chronic back pain often is disabling. This lower back and hip pain doesn’t go away in three months or less but could last a little longer or a lifetime. There are several options if you have this type of pain. Mainstream medicine is one of them but chiropractic services, acupuncture, exercises, massage and even supplements can benefit this pain. No matter what you do, make sure that you check the credentials of those whose service you use.

There are birth defects that cause lower back and hip pain. An example of this is might include unequal leg length, scoliosis, or even flat feet. The abdominal muscles and back muscles might be weak and unable to maintain the body and spine properly. Improper posture also can cause lower back and leg pain. Most lower back and hip pain, however, comes from muscle strain.

If your back pain comes from the piriformis syndrome, you have an inflammation in the muscle deep in the buttocks that allows hip rotation. Often a tight hamstring can cause the muscle to pull and inflame the piriformis. This makes the all the surrounding muscles sore. The inflammation may also cause swelling that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve and causes the pain of sciatica. Many people that sit on the job find that this is a job hazard.

If you suddenly find a bout of lower back and hip pain or sciatica, you can do something at home. Apply a cold pack to the area to reduce the swelling, take an anti-inflammatory drug, cut back on sugar, increase the consumption foods with ginger and foods with omega-3 fatty acids and see if a massage helps. Learning to stretch properly to keep the muscles in the legs and back supple also helps prevent lower back and hip pain.

Try some exercises for lower back pain. Remember, when you do exercises, it’s best to get the advice of a professional so you do the right ones. Improper exercise can cause more damage.

Tags: lower back and hip pain, lower back and leg pain, Lower Back Pain

Are you looking for exercise tips for back pain during pregnancy, or abdominal exercise and pregnancy (often misspelled as awdominal exercise pnd pregnancy) ? You have come to the right place. Back pain and pregnancy seem to always go together. You posture changes during pregnancy. As your baby grows, your abdomen increases in size and shifts your center of gravity. Subconsciously, you may change the way you stand, sit and walk. It is important to be aware of your posture and maintain a correct posture while gently tightening your lower abdominal muscles to support the weight of your baby. While you may find relief from stretches and exercises alone, using a maternity support belt can provide additional benefits particularly in later pregnancy.

Abdominal exercise and pregnancy/back pain pregnancy exercise – The following abdominal exercise  not only help you maintain a good posture to prevent  or ease lower back pain, but also get your body prepared for birth.

Standing well - Strengthens tummy muscles and takes the strain off your back. You can do this exercise at any time of day, and you’ll instantly feel the benefits. Always start your routine with this exercise to get the maximum benefit from all the positions.

• Stand upright and lift the top of your head towards the ceiling as though a string is being pulled up.

• Drop your shoulders away from your ears, not forcing them down.

• Use your stomach muscles at tuck the baby up and in towards you – picture him aiming for your lungs. Your coccyx (the base of your spine) should be pointing directly towards the floor.

Back Pain Pregnancy Exercise Image – Tommy Toners

Tommy toners – Strengthen your tummy muscles

Stretching of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy may reduce their efficiency in maintaining good posture and back support. It is therefore important to exercise these muscles regularly during and post pregnancy.

• Position yourself on all fours, on a firm surface, with a straight back. Concentrate hard on pulling in your stomach muscles so you’re tucking your baby up and in towards you. Hold this for a second, then gently release the muscles. Breathe regularly as you repeat this exercise 10 times.

• Sit with your legs bent in front of you, your arms behind, with your fingertips facing your back. Pull in your stomach and push your lower back towards the floor; you should see the baby tilt towards you. Release, then repeat 8 times.

Pelvic floor exercises – Strengthen pelvic floor muscles

The pelvic floor is a sling of muscle and fibrous tissue which supports the contents of the pelvic and helps control continence. During pregnancy the pregnancy hormones and the weight of the baby may have a weakening effect on the pelvic floor. Vaginal delivery stretches and weakens the pelvic floor. Recovery of this muscle is important for continence and to support the pelvic organs. It is recommended that all women exercise their pelvic floor muscles regularly throughout life.

Do these simple pregnancy exercises several times a day to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles

• Sit, stand or lie with you knees slightly apart.

• Squeeze and draw up the muscles slowly around your anus, vagina and urethra, hold for at least 5 seconds, then relax. Repeat 5 times, at least 6 times a day. Slow, strong controlled contractions are preferable.

• Now try to do 5-10 quick strong exercises. Pull the same muscles up quickly and relax them immediately. Repeat at least 4 times a day.

• Always stop exercising when you feel tired, and rest between each exercise.

• Do not hold your breath, breathe normally.

So if you are looking for abdominal exercise and pregnancy, or exercise tips for back pain during pregnancy, these are the exercises you should start doing right now. Always consult with your doctor before you start a new exercise program. For more information on pregnancy related exercises, contact the physiotherapy department at the women’s hospital, or your local council for classes with qualified instructors. Remember, physical exercises will help you stay well, feel positive and cope with the challenges of becoming a mother.

Tags: abdominal exercise and pregnancy, back pain in pregnant women, back pain pregnancy exercise tips