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Low back pain or lumbago is a common disorder involving the muscles, nerves, and bones of the back, in between the lower edge of the ribs and the lower fold of the buttocks. Pain can vary from a dull constant ache to a sudden sharp feeling. [ 4 ]
Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. [1] This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. [3] Onset is often sudden following activities such as heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. [5] The pain is often described as shooting. [1] Typically, symptoms are only on one side of the body. [3]
Back pain (Latin: dorsalgia) is pain felt in the back. It may be classified as neck pain (cervical), middle back pain (thoracic), lower back pain (lumbar) or coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain) based on the segment affected. [1] The lumbar area is the most common area affected. [2]
However, the symptoms vary depending on the severity and cause of the condition. Lighter symptoms include pain or heaviness in the legs, hips, glutes and lower back, post-exercise. [6] [8] Mild to severe symptoms include prolonged constant pain, tiredness and discomfort in the lower half of the body.
After age 50 or 60, osteoarthritic degeneration (spondylosis) or spinal stenosis are more likely causes of low back pain or leg pain. 4.8% of males and 2.5% of females older than 35 experience sciatica during their lifetime. Of all individuals, 60% to 80% experience back pain during their lifetime. In 14%, pain lasts more than two weeks.
Thoracic spinal stenosis, at the level of the mid-back, is much less common. [13] In lumbar stenosis, the spinal nerve roots in the lower back are compressed which can lead to symptoms of sciatica (tingling, weakness, or numbness that radiates from the low back and into the buttocks and legs). [citation needed]
Spondylolysis is a common cause of low back pain in preadolescents and adolescent athletes, as it accounts for about 50% of all low back pain. [7] It is believed that both repetitive trauma and an inherent genetic weakness can make an individual more susceptible to spondylolysis. [4]
The lumbar spine is often the site of back pain. The area is susceptible because of its flexibility and the amount of body weight it regularly bears. [2] It is estimated that low-back pain may affect as much as 80 to 90 percent of the general population in the United States. [3]