Massage for Low Back Pain, Low Back Injuries, Pulls & Strains, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Ca

Low Back Pain is one of the most common conditions that I work on besides the neck and shoulder.
Ouch! Massage for Low Back Pain, Mid Back Pain, Low Back Injuries, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Ca

My Low Back Just Went Out- What do I do?

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Back pain is a very common complaint. … Pain in the lower back may be linked to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles, abdomen, and pelvic internal organs, and the skin around the lumbar area.

Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement may strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you’re in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back may cause painful muscle spasms. Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine.

What causes muscle spasms in the lower back?

Heavy lifting is a common cause of back spasms. Any activity that puts excessive strain on the muscles and ligaments in the lower back can cause an injury. … A ruptured or bulging disk in the vertebrae may also pressure a nerve, which can result in back pain.

How do I know if my back pain is serious?
 
  1. Persistent fevers.
  2. Unplanned weight loss.
  3. Blood in the stool or urine.
  4. Progressive numbness or weakness in the legs.
  5. Inability to urinate or have a bowel movement.
  6. Loss of bowel/bladder control.
  7. Pain at night.
  8. Sexual dysfunction.
What can I do to relieve my lower back pain?
 
 
  1. Maintain correct posture during activities. …
  2. Maintain correct posture when sitting. …
  3. Use ice or heat. …
  4. Stretch your muscles. …
  5. Wear proper footwear. …
  6. Maintain a healthy weight. …
  7. Stay active. …
  8. Consider using over-the-counter pain relievers.
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
 
Don’t medically investigate back pain until it’s met at least three criteria: (1) it’s been bothering you for more than about 6 weeks; (2) it’s severe and/or not improving, or actually getting worse; and (3) there’s at least one other “red flag”: age over 55 or under 20, painful to light tapping, fever/malaise, weight …
What organs can cause lower back pain?
 
As well, organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, colon, and uterus are located near your lower back. All of these can be responsible for pain in the left side of your lower back, so there are many potential causes.
 
How do you tell if lower back pain is muscle or disc?
 
In general, disc herniations hurt both with bending forward AND with returning from bending up to an upright position. Back strains or sprains tend to hurt less with bending forward, and more with returning from a forward bend.
 
How do you know if lower back pain is muscular?
 
  1. your back hurting more when you move, less when you stay still.
  2. pain in your back radiating down into your buttocks but not typically extending into your legs.
  3. muscle cramps or spasms in your back.
  4. trouble walking or bending.
  5. difficulty standing up straight.
What is the best vitamin for lower back pain?
 
Here are some of the most effective supplements for back pain, according to experts:
  • MSM.
  • Co-Q10.
  • Magnesium.
  • Turmeric.
  • Devil’s claw.
  • Willow bark.
How should I sleep with lower back pain?
 
For some people, sleeping on their back may be the best position to relieve back pain:
  1. Lay flat on your back.
  2. Place a pillow underneath your knees and keep your spine neutral. …
  3. You may also place a small, rolled-up towel under the small of your back for added support.
Why won’t my lower back pain go away?
 
Visit a Doctor/Get a Second Opinion – If your back pain is lingering, consider heading into a spine specialist’s office for a diagnosis. You may think you’re dealing with one problem, but if it turns out something else is causing your pain, your current treatment methods may be exacerbating the problem.
 
How can I tell if my back pain is kidney-related?
 
Kidney pain is felt higher and deeper in your body than back pain. You may feel it in the upper half of your back, not the lower part. Unlike back discomfort, it’s felt on one or both sides, usually under your rib cage.
…
Other symptoms to watch for
  1. Fever.
  2. Body aches.
  3. Tiredness.
Can bowel problems cause lower back pain?
 
The blockage in your colon or rectum can cause a dull pain that extends from your abdomen to your lower back. Sometimes, back pain caused by a tumor or infection could have constipation as a side effect. In other cases, lower back pain may not be related to constipation.

 

What causes lower back pain all of a sudden?

 
Acute low back pain is most often caused by a sudden injury to the muscles and ligaments supporting the back. The pain may be caused by muscle spasms or a strain or tear in the muscles and ligaments. Causes of sudden low back pain include Compression fractures to the spine from osteoporosis.

How do I know if my back pain is muscle or spine?
 
Typically, pain originating in your spine will look a little different than pain from a muscle. You may have a more burning or electric type of pain, or your pain may be constant. With spinal-issue pain, you may also have pain that “shoots” down your leg or into your glutes.
 
How does a slipped disc feel?
 
If you have a herniated lumbar disc, you may feel the pain that radiates from your low back area, down one or both legs, and sometimes into your feet (called sciatica). You may feel pain like an electric shock that is severe whether you stand, walk, or sit.
 
How long lower back pain lasts?
 
There are two types of back pain: Acute, or short-term back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. Most low back pain is acute. It tends to resolve on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no residual loss of function.
 
What foods help lower back pain?
 
Changing your diet and finding some anti-inflammatory food to eat can help combat back pain.
 
  • Tuna. This fish offers some nutrients that can help you keep inflammation at bay. …
  • Salmon. …
  • Carrots. …
  • Sweet Potatoes. …
  • Red Wine. …
  • Nuts. …
  • Olive Oil. …
  • Green Tea.

Is a heating pad good for lower back pain?

 
Studies show that it can provide short-term pain relief. A hot shower, bath, or heating pad can help relax tense muscles and reduce inflammation. But if you use a heating pad, be careful. Don’t set it on “high” or fall asleep with it on your skin.
 

Causes of back pain

The human back is composed of a complex structure of muscles, ligaments, tendons, disks, and bones – the segments of our spine are cushioned with cartilage-like pads called disks. Problems with any of these components can lead to back pain. In some cases of back pain, its cause is never found. Problems with the spine such as osteoporosis can lead to back pain.

Strain – the most common causes of back pain are:

  • Strained muscles
  • Strained ligaments
  • A muscle spasm

Things that can lead to strains or spasms include:

  • Lifting something improperly
  • Lifting something that is too heavy
  • The result of abrupt and awkward movements

Back pain is a very common complaint. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 80% of all Americans will have low back pain at least once in their lives.

Back pain is a common reason for absence from work and doctor visits. Although back pain may be painful and uncomfortable, it is not usually serious.

Even though back pain can affect people of any age, it is significantly more common among adults aged between 35 and 55 years. Experts say that back pain is associated with the way our bones, muscles, and ligaments in our backs work and connect together.

Pain in the lower back may be linked to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, lower back muscles, abdomen, and pelvic internal organs, and the skin around the lumbar area. Pain in the upper back may be due to disorders of the aorta, tumors in the chest, and spine inflammation.

Structural problems – the following structural problems may also result in back pain:

  • Ruptured disks – each vertebra in our spine is cushioned by disks. If the disk ruptures there will be more pressure on a nerve, resulting in back pain.
  • Bulging disks – in much the same way as ruptured disks, a bulging disk can result in more pressure on a nerve.
  • Sciatica – a sharp and shooting pain that travels through the buttock and down the back of the leg, caused by a bulging or herniated disc pressing on a nerve.
  • Arthritis – patients with osteoarthritis commonly experience problems with the joints in the hips, lower back, knees, and hands. In some cases, spinal stenosis can develop, which is the term used to describe when the space around the spinal cord narrows.
  • Abnormal curvature of the spine – if the spine curves in an unusual way the patient is more likely to experience back pain. An example is a scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves to the side.
  • Osteoporosis – bones, including the vertebrae of the spine, become brittle and porous, making compression fractures more likely.

Below are some other causes of back pain:

  • Cauda equina syndrome – the cauda equine is a bundle of spinal nerve roots that arise from the lower end of the spinal cord. People with cauda equine syndrome feel a dull pain in the lower back and upper buttocks, as well as analgesia (lack of feeling) in the buttocks, genitalia, and thigh. There are sometimes bowel and bladder function disturbances.
  • Cancer of the spine – a tumor located on the spine may press against a nerve, resulting in back pain.
  • Infection of the spine – if the patient has an elevated body temperature (fever) as well as a tender warm area on the back, it could be caused by an infection of the spine.
  • Other infections – pelvic inflammatory disease (females), bladder, or kidney infections may also lead to back pain.
  • Sleep disorders – individuals with sleep disorders are more likely to experience back pain, compared to others.
  • Shingles – an infection that can affect the nerves may lead to back pain, depending on the nerves affected.
  • Bad mattress – if a mattress does not support specific parts of the body and keep the spine straight, there is a greater risk of developing back pain.

Everyday activities or poor posture.

Back pain can also be the result of some everyday activity or poor posture. Examples include: Adopting a very hunched sitting position when using computers can result in increased back and shoulder problems over time.

  • Bending awkwardly
  • Pushing something
  • Pulling something
  • Carrying something
  • Lifting something
  • Standing for long periods
  • Bending down for long periods
  • Twisting
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Muscle tension
  • Over-stretching
  • Straining the neck forward, such as when driving or using a computer
  • Long driving sessions without a break, even when not hunched

Risk factors

A risk factor is something that increases the likelihood of developing a condition or disease. For example, obesity significantly raises the risk of developing diabetes type 2. Therefore, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2.

The following factors are linked to a higher risk of developing low back pain:

  • A mentally stressful job
  • Pregnancy – pregnant women are much more likely to get back pain
  • A sedentary lifestyle
  • Age – older adults are more susceptible than young adults or children
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Gender – back pain is more common among females than males
  • Obesity and overweight
  • Smoking
  • Strenuous physical exercise (especially if not done properly)
  • Strenuous physical work.

Signs and symptoms

A symptom is something that the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something other people, such as the doctor detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.

The main symptom of back pain is, as the name suggests, an ache or pain anywhere on the back, and sometimes all the way down to the buttocks and legs. Some back issues can cause pain in other parts of the body, depending on the nerves affected.

In most cases, signs, and symptoms clear up on their own within a short period.

If any of the following signs or symptoms accompany back pain, people should see their doctor:

  • Weight loss
  • Elevated body temperature (fever)
  • Inflammation (swelling) of the back
  • Persistent back pain – lying down or resting does not help
  • Pain in the legs
  • Pain reaches the knees
  • A recent injury, blow, or trauma to your back
  • Urinary incontinence – you pee unintentionally (even in small amounts)
  • Difficulty urinating – passing urine is hard
  • Fecal incontinence – you lose your bowel control (you poo unintentionally)
  • Numbness around the genitals
  • Numbness around the anus
  • Numbness in the buttocks

According to the British National Health Service (NHS), the following groups of people should seek medical advice if they experience back pain:

  • People aged less than 20 and more than 55 years
  • Patients who have been taking steroids for a few months
  • Drug abusers
  • Patients with cancer
  • Patients who have had cancer
  • Patients with depressed immune systems

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage for back pain

  • Treats Chronic Back Pain.
  • Helps Lower High Blood Pressure.
  • Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Muscle Tension.
  • Breaks Up, Scar Tissue.
  • Improves Athletic Recovery and Performance.
  • Can Help with Labor Pain and Delivery.
  • Reduces Arthritis Symptoms.
  • Finding a Trained Deep Tissue Massage Therapist:

Massage therapy is becoming more widely accepted in the medical community as a credible treatment for many types of back pain and/or as an adjunct to other medical treatments. Research shows that massage therapy has several potential health benefits for back pain sufferers, including:

  • Increased blood flow and circulation, which brings needed nutrition to muscles and tissues. This aids in the recovery of muscle soreness from physical activity or soft tissue injury (such as muscle strain).
  • Decreased tension in the muscles. This muscle relaxation can improve flexibility, reduce pain caused by tight muscles and even improve sleep.
  • Increased endorphin levels–the “feel good” chemicals in the brain. This mood enhancer can ease depression and anxiety, which can help reduce pain and speed recovery–particularly important for those suffering from chronic back or neck problems.

What’s the Bottom Line?

How much do we know about massage?

A lot of research on the effects of massage therapy has been carried out.

What do we know about the effectiveness of massage?

While often preliminary or conflicting, there is scientific evidence that massage may help with back pain and may improve the quality of life for people with depression, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

What do we know about the safety of massage?

Massage therapy appears to have few risks if it’s used appropriately and provided by a trained massage professional.

Is a massage good for lower back pain?
 
YES! Massage therapy can provide substantial healing and pain relief for many lower back problems. Specifically, for pain caused by a back strain, when the correct muscle is targeted, the pain can be controlled at its source—for quicker and lasting relief.
 
How often should I get a massage for lower back pain?
 
 If your injury is relatively new and confined to one area of the back, you may find that massage helps relieve back pain in 2-3 sessions. But, if your pain has lasted longer and is more widespread, it can take as many as four weeks to see a benefit.
 
Can massage release emotions?
 
YES! Massage therapy can help release these negative emotions and reduce the tension in our bodies. When massage therapists are working on a client’s body, they often encounter areas of the body that are incredibly tight. That is a clue that this is an area of the client’s body in which negative emotions are stored.
Further Reading

Spine Health

Livestrong

USA Today

NPR

Time Health

AMTA

NIA

Therapeutic Swedish Massage, Sports Massage Therapy in Santa Barbara, Goleta

*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of any kind. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader. These statements are not expressions of legal opinion relative to the scope of practice, medical diagnosis, or medical advice, nor do they represent an endorsement of any product, company, or specific massage therapy technique, modality, or approach. All trademarks, registered trademarks, brand names, registered brand names, logos, and company logos referenced in this post are the property of their owners.