Symptoms of Lumbar/Sacral Back Pain include:

• Inability to point big toe upwards
• Numbness in leg
• Pain in the lower back
• Pain radiating down your leg
• Pain that worsens with inactivity
• Pain that worsens with activity
• Weakness in leg

Diagnostic tests include:

• Blood tests
• Bone scans
• CT
• Discography
• Electrodiagnostics
• MRI
• Myelograms
• Ultrasound imaging
• X-ray

To identify possible serious conditions causing low back pain, a physical exam and medical history are usually needed. Diagnosis can also depend on the location of pain, the history of the injury, and the determination if there has been a prior injury to the nervous system.

Imaging tests are normally only used for lower back pain to exclude other causes of pain.

Common forms include:

• Axial pain (mechanical pain)
• Radicular pain (sharp, shooting pain)
• Referred pain (dull and achy)

Causes & contributing factors may include:

• Bone and joints conditions
• Compression fracture
• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated disc
• Kidney issues
• Lumbar strain
• Mechanical issues
• Nerve irritation
• Osteoarthritis
• Ovary issues
• Pregnancy
• Pulled or torn muscle and/or ligament (most common)
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Trauma
• Tumors

• Lumbar strain can occur at any age, but is most common to people in the 40s.
• Lumbar strain is considered chronic after three months.
• Extended activity used to be the recommendation for lumbar strain treatment, but has been found to possibly slow recovery.