BACK PAIN SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Soft-tissue injury
€¢ Soft-tissue injury is often brought on by an event involving lifting or twisting.
€¢ Pain may spread right across the back at the level of the top of the pelvic girdle, or may run vertically on one side of the spine.
€¢ Pain may radiate to the buttock or thigh.
€¢ Pain and restriction of movement may cause the patient to adopt a posture of leaning forward or to one side.
€¢ The patient is otherwise well.

Nerve root pain
€¢ Pain is felt in the lower back and often radiates down one leg, sometimes as far as the foot. €¢ Pain can be intense and burning.
€¢ Pain is constant and made worse by movement.
€¢ Patient limps and is unable to flex the hip very fa,r making sitting and climbing stairs uncomfortable; gait is stiff and awkward; patients may hold themselves rigid to avoid movement.