Shooting Pain in Lower Back Spine

Lower back pain can be triggered by a range of problems with any parts of the complex, interconnected network of spine muscles, nerves, bones, discs or tendons in the lumbar spine.

Lower Back Spine Shooting Pain

Common sources of shooting pain in low back spine consist of:

• The big nerve roots in the low back that go to the legs might be inflamed
• The smaller nerves that supply the low back may be irritated
• The huge paired lower back muscles (erector spinae) might be strained
• The bones, ligaments or joints might be harmed
• An intervertebral disc may be degenerating

An irritation or problem with any of these structures can cause lower back pain and/or pain that radiates or is referred to other parts of the body. Lots of lower back problems likewise cause back muscle spasms, which do not sound like much but can cause severe pain and impairment.

While lower back shooting pain is incredibly typical, the symptoms and intensity of lower back pain vary significantly. An easy lower back muscle strain may be excruciating enough to require an emergency clinic go to, while a deteriorating disc might cause only mild, intermittent pain.

Identifying the symptoms and getting a medical diagnosis that identifies the underlying cause of the pain is the initial step in getting efficient pain relief.

Typical Shooting Pain in Lower Back Spine Causes in Adults

Specific reasons for lower back pain tend to take place more often in younger people versus older adults:

Younger adults (30 to 60 years of age) are most likely to experience back pain from the disc area itself (e.g. lumbar disc herniation or degenerative disc disease) or from a back muscle strain or other soft tissue strain.
Older adults (over 60) are most likely to suffer from pain related to joint degeneration (such as osteoarthritis or spinal stenosis) or from a compression fracture.

Generally, more youthful individuals (30 to 60 years of age) are more likely to experience back pain from a lower back muscle strain or from within the disc space itself – such as a lumbar disc herniation or lumbar degenerative disc disease.

Lower Back Shooting Pain Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms: Severe or hurting pain in the lower back that begins after activity, sudden movement, or raising a heavy item.

These lower back pain symptoms consist of any combination of the following:

• Difficulty moving that can be severe sufficient to avoid walking or standing
• Shooting pain that likewise moves around to the groin, buttock or upper thigh, however seldom travels below the knee
• Pain that tends to be achy and dull
• Muscle spasms, which can be severe
• Local discomfort upon touch

Possible Causes: Back muscle strain

A back muscle strain or ligament strain is among the most typical reasons for acute lower back pain. Lifting a heavy things, twisting, or a sudden movement can trigger muscles or ligaments stretch or develop microscopic tears.

With a lower back strain, the severity of the pain ranges from moderate pain to severe, disabling pain, depending on the level of strain and the lower back muscle spasms that result from the injury.

Symptoms: Low back pain that takes a trip to the butt, leg and foot (sciatica).

Sciatica consists of any mix of the following symptoms:

• Pain usually is ongoing (as opposed to flaring for a couple of days or weeks then decreasing).
• Shooting pain may be even worse in the leg and foot than in the lower back.
• Typically felt on one side the buttock or leg only.
• Pain that is typically worse after long periods of standing still or sitting: relieved rather when walking.
• More severe (burning, tingling) vs. dull, hurting pain.
• May be accompanied by weak point, numbness or trouble moving the leg or foot.

Lower Back Pain Treatment

Treatment for shooting pain in lower back spine depends upon the patient’s history and the type and seriousness of pain. The large majority of lower back pain cases get better within six weeks without surgery, and lower back pain exercises are almost always part of a treatment plan.

If pain continues or gets worse, more engaged diagnostic and surgeries may be recommended.

• Rest. Ceasing activity for a couple of days permits hurt tissue as well as nerve roots to begin to recover, which in turn will assist eliminate lower back pain. However, more than a few days off can cause a weakening of the muscles, and weak muscles have to have a hard time to effectively support the spinal column. Patients who do sporadically work out to develop strength and versatility are more likely to experience frequent or prolonged lower back pain.
• Heat and Ice Packs. Heat and/or cold treatment assists ease most types of low back pain by lowering swelling. Typically patients use ice, however some choose heat. Both might be made use of at the same time.
• Medications. A wide range of non-prescription and prescription medications is available to assist reduce lower back pain. Lots of medications minimize inflammation, which is typically a cause of pain, while others work to inhibit the transmission of pain signals from reaching the brain. Each medication has several unique threats, possible side effects and drug (or food or supplement) interactions, which need to be assessed by a doctor.
• Exercise for Lower Back Pain. Exercise is a key element of almost any lower backspine shooting pain treatment strategy. Typically an exercise program will be developed and taught by a spine health professional, such as a physical therapist, chiropractic doctor, or physiatrist, and will consist of three parts: aerobic conditioning, extending, and strengthening. The exercises are best done through a managed, progressive program, with the objective of building toward a stronger, more versatile spine.
• Low Impact Aerobic Exercise. In addition to exercises particular to the lower back, any low impact aerobic workout, such as walking, is often a perfect exercise for the lower back due to the fact that it assists bring oxygen to the soft tissues in the back to promote healing. Swimming or water exercise has the very same effect and is an outstanding alternative if walking is too uncomfortable.
• Chiropractic Adjustment (also called Chiropractic Manipulation) can help enhance spinal function by reducing pain and swelling to enhance variety of motion and physical function. Manual control is also typically carried out by osteopathic doctors.
• Epidural. Steroid Injections provide steroids directly into the uncomfortable area of the lower back to decrease inflammation. The steroids do not heal the elements of the back, but often supply enough pain relief to enable patients to move, workout and heal.
• Surgery for Lower Back Pain. Surgery is usually the patient’s decision, and a certified spine specialist will have the ability to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. For sciatica, laminectomy and microdiscectomy have been shown to considerably lower pain symptoms by relieving the pressure on compressed nerve roots. Fusion surgery, which is used to get rid of the movement at a movement sector, is a more comprehensive surgery but can be effective at relieving pain due to an agonizing movement segment.

The above is not an exhaustive list of all possible treatments for lower back pain, however does include the most typical treatments. It is recommended for patients to look for a diagnosis from their medical care doctor, chiropractic doctor, or a spinal column expert (such as a physiatrist) to figure out the underlying reason for their lower back pain and look for appropriate treatment.