SYMPTOMS - Back

Low Back Symptoms
Low Back Pain in the lower part of your spine. Soreness of the muscles, tendons and ligaments of your lower back is the most common complaint given by people like yourself with what is termed as a low back sprain or strain. If you have had these symptoms after an injury, this is called "acute"; if you have these symptoms off and on for months or years, this is called "chronic".

Buttock Pain
When you develop a pain located in your buttock, or the area where your wallet may be placed in your back pocket, you may have an irritation to the nerves supplying this area. Most commonly, this is due to an irritation of the outer covering of a large group of your spinal nerves supplying your entire thigh, leg and foot. This large nerve is named the sciatic nerve and an irritation of this nerve is known as sciatica.

Pain in your Tail Bone
When pain occurs around your tailbone you may have irritated the nerves exiting around your tailbone. One of the bones of your tailbone is known as the coccyx and pain caused by an injury to either this bone or its surrounding nerves is known a coxodynia.

Lower Leg Pain and Numbness
Numbness and weakness in your leg may mean an irritation to one or many of your nerve roots from such things as a herniated disk, spinal stenosis, or severe arthritis. If you develop numbness or weakness in your foot or around your buttock and entire bottom, you should report this immediately to your doctor. Failure to report these symptoms immediately may result in permanent damage.

Thigh Pain and Numbness
Occasionally, some people will experience numbness, tightness and even weakness to their thighs. A narrowing of your spinal canal can sometimes cause through severe arthritis called spinal stenosis or the forward slipping of one vertebra on another referred to as spondylolisthesis.

Weakness
If you have compression of one of your nerve roots, usually by a herniated disk, you can experience weakness in your thighs, legs, or feet. This can happen to just one of the legs or both. If you experience weakness, notify your doctor immediately.

If you develop any of the symptoms below, you MUST contact your health care provider immediately:

• Loss of feeling to your buttock, or legs
• Loss of control of your bowel or bladder
• Inability to move your legs or weakness
• Pain in your legs or back not controlled with normal pain relief methods