Why does my back hurt?

Here we look at 2 common causes of lower back pain, and what to look out for

7/23/20241 min read

There could be many reasons for your back pain, however we are going to focus on just two; Muscle strains and disc injuries.

Your back feels like it's about to "go" or give way.
Your back is sensitive to compression, such as going over bumps in a car.
You feel it is difficult to lift your leg from the floor when seated.
This is because the discs in your back act like springs. When injured, anything that puts pressure on the "spring" can cause discomfort.
Disc injuries can also cause nerve root compression, sciatic pain being an example. You may feel pain, numbness, and reduced muscle function in your hip, thigh and leg.

Your back feels tight and swollen.
Your muscles are sore and may spasm if used for too long.
You can lift your leg from the floor when seated without increasing your symptoms
This is because the muscles in your back will swell and tighten when damaged. They will be sensitive to stretching and get tired quickly when doing normal daily activities.
You may also get nerve compression with muscle strains due to the inflammation caused by your injury. Generally it is much milder, and recovers more quickly than a disc injury.