5 Signs of a Bad Back
The back and spine are an important part of the body’s mobility in all directions, and helps strengthen and protect the nerves and spinal cord. A bad back can cause one to experience anything from mild to severe painful states. Back pain can take place in the lower, middle, or upper areas of the back and can appear because of many different causes. Whether your pain stems from a sports injury, bad car accident, or an injury at work, a bad back can cause major pain when not treated accordingly. Here are 5 signs of a bad back:
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Stiffness and Pain in the Spine
If you are experiencing stiffness, do not be nervous! It is common for people to experience neck pain anywhere from the top of the neck all the way down the spine. Some may experience extremely tense muscles or sharp points of pain. This can be due to a neck strain or muscle pain that has occurred from damage to the levator scapula. This muscle is the one that connects the shoulder to the cervical spine, playing an important role in facilitating mobility in the neck! You can injure this muscle in many ways, ranging anywhere from bad sleeping habits, to sport injuries, or simply just having chronic bad posture.
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Sciatica Symptoms
If you find yourself experiencing pain along the spine and all the way down to the back of the leg, sciatica may be the culprit! A major symptom is a sharp pain that is usually felt on one side of the leg. The pain feels as if that one side is weakened and debilitated, but also burns and tingles along the leg. The main cause for sciatica is that the lumbar spine is being irritated, causing immense pain throughout the lower part of the spine. Seek medical attention if the pain weakens the body or is so extremely sharp that it disrupts your daily activities!
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Pain Increases with Most Movements
When pain is constantly being triggered from a range of motions, such as bending forward to pick something up or stretching your legs after sitting, this may be a red flag of having a bad back. If something as minimal as a cough can cause the trigger point of pain in the back, it may be worthwhile to get yourself checked out to be sure that it’s not a serious problem. Extreme symptoms such as these can be a sign of having a herniated disc, which happen from a jolted experience or the constant dealignment of the spine. These discs in the spine keep your back flexible and healthy, so being sure that they are strong and aligned is very important for your overall back health!
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Pain and Fever or Other Symptoms
While pain may be a sign of a bad back, pain in the back with the addition of a fever can be the sign of an infection. If you’re experiencing a fever, burning while urinating, or a constant urgency of urination, you may have an infection. These symptoms may be a sign of something more serious then a bad back and you should plan to see a doctor. If the pain in your back is supplemented by additional factors, it is probably a good idea to consider all of your symptoms and see a professional to help diagnose your illness.
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Tingling in the Neck, Hands, or Feet
If you experience weakening in the legs, thighs, or hands, this can be an indicator of a bad back. If you experience tingling in the hands or feet, this can be a sign that there is damage in the spinal cord area. These symptoms can be serious and are not to be taken lightly. If the pain consists of a tingling feeling, or it becomes numb in these areas, it’s important to be seen by doctor and get it treated immediately!
Taking care of a bad back is extremely vital to promote your overall health and well-being. There are many options that should be taken into account when diagnosing a bad back, and considering all of your symptoms is vital to help find the right fix for your pain. Massage therapy can really help heal and strengthen a bad back with the right type of massages. For basically any area of pain in the back, a deep tissue massage may be just the answer to all of your aches or discomfort. A deep tissue massage can specifically target the upper or lower back and neck areas. This type of massage is effective because of it’s ability to realign the deeper layers of muscles and ease any stress that may be being held in the back or spine. As many doctors have recommended in the past, a deep tissue massage can be a reliable treatment option, and is absolutely one to consider when looking for ways to treat a bad back!
