Nagging Back Pain – Tips for Finding Relief






Joint Pain

The lumbar spine (lower back) is made up of 5 vertebra which are stacked on top of each other and connected to each other by two small joints called facet joints. The facet joints of the spine allow for movement. They allow us to bend, twist, and move in all directions. When these joints become sprained, there is often local pain and tenderness at the level of the joint and restricted movement. Facet joint pain radiates down the leg but rarely past the knee. Pain is often sharp in nature and is usually limited to one side of the spine.


Disc Pain

Within your spine are circular cushions called “discs’. Discs provide cushioning within the spine. Long periods of sitting or performing tasks that require a lot of bending and twisting can irritate discs and cause them to become inflamed or strained. The lumbar spine’s lowest two spinal segments, L4-L5 and L5-S1, bear the most weight and are therefore the most prone to disc injury. Back pain stemming from discs radiate down the leg, all the way into the toes. It is often the cause of sciatica and will usually affect only one side of the body. Disc pain is often aggravated by bending forward or during a straight leg raise.


Pelvic Pain

At the back of your hips, located within the pelvis, are two joints called the sacroiliac joints. They are located on each side of the tailbone. Occasionally, these joints become stuck and/or inflamed. Sacroiliac joint pain also refers into the leg, but unlike disc pain it does not typically travel into the foot. Pain is often aggravated in extension positions, similar to the above-mentioned cobra yoga pose, therefore, stretches inducing flexion are helpful. Pulling your knees to your chest and stretching the glutes are a good example. Placing ice on the joints can also minimize pain.

Muscle Pain

There are several muscles that attach to the spine and occasionally these muscles become strained if stretched to far or after repetitive movements. When strained, muscles feel as if they are in spasm and  affect both sides of the spine.  Multiple directions including bending, twisting, or leaning side to side aggravate muscle pain which often feels like a dull ache. Doing a yoga class or getting a massage from a registered massage therapist can assist with this type of back pain.



Written by Dr. Nekessa Remy, an award-winning chiropractor, a registered and medical acupuncturist and one of Canada’s fastest rising and sought-after health and wellness expert in the industry today.

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