Acute Lower Back Pain

Acute Lower Back Pain is the first 24 hours to the first week of back pain. It can also cause pain in the legs, hips or buttocks

Causes

• Annular tears – tears in the outer 1/3 of the disc which increase probability of disc bulges and herniations
• Disc bulge/herniation – an actual bulging of the disc in one area
• Facet joint sprain or locking – partial tearing of the ligaments surrounding the facet joints in the spine, or facet joints actually locking or being limited in their normal motion
  All of these conditions contribute to muscle spasming since muscle spasming is the body’s way of protecting itself when something in the spine is injured or not functioning properly.

Treatment

• Ice- always on acute injuries of any type
• No heat– causes increased inflammation in acute injuries
• Directional exercise– to reduce disc involvement and inflammation
• Modalities to decrease inflammation and muscle spasming
• Decompression– to decompress discs, reduce bulges, assist healing and ensure proper tissue reformation
• Mobilization– improve and increase joint mobility in the spine including facet joints
  Treatment should progress into a more specific exercise program for directional exercise and stabilization.

Be Wary Of

• Medication that only covers up the existing mechanical cause of your condition
• If leg pain or changes in sensation appear, get proper medical care
• In cases of annular tears early intervention is important to reduce the chance of chronic spine pathology
• Of any rehabilitation, which does not involve very specific and extensive exercising, modalities and massages will not produce lasting results
• Rehabilitation that doesn’t teach you how to manage your condition on your own when not coming to the clinic