What Is Causing Your Back and Leg Pain?

Back and leg pain is a common ailment that affects men and women in equal measure. They are also the leading causes of job-related disabilities. The ailments can manifest themselves in the form of mild to severe aches and pains.

The symptoms may also vary in time, with some going on for weeks. The most common cause of back pain is to wear and tear of the body and muscle strain. When severe back pain extends to other areas of the body like the legs, it causes leg pain. Both back and leg pain also come with symptoms such as tingling, limited mobility, feeling sore when touched, and burning sensations. Below are other causes of leg and back pains.

1. Fibroids

Can fibroids cause back pain and leg pain? They sometimes do. On rare occasions, fibroids will press against your lower back's muscles and nerves and cause pain. The size and position of the fibroid also determine the severity of the back pain. Small fibroids located within the uterus will likely cause less intense pain than larger ones on the back of the uterus surface. Back pain is, however, very common, so it will help to look into other factors that may be causing your pain before first attributing it to fibroids. 

1. Muscle sprains and strains

Sprains and strains to the muscles are the top cause of back pain and can also lead to muscle spasms. The pain can move to the buttocks and restrict motion. These sprains can be as a result of injuries during sports, overstretching the back, and improper lifting of heavy objects. There are several ways in which you can treat your back pain at home. Some of these include resting, rubbing with ice or heat packs, OTC pain relievers, and stretching gently. For more severe symptoms, chiropractic care or physical therapy is appropriate.

1. Lifestyle 

Your usual daily posture can be the cause of your back and leg pain. If you have a poor standing or sitting posture, you will stress your lower back and end up experiencing pain. If your work involves sitting at a desk or in front of a computer for hours, you may be used to dealing with frequent lower back pain. To reduce the effects of your lifestyle on the health of your back, adopt measures such as regular exercising, learning the correct sitting posture, regularly standing and stretching around, using a supportive chair, and maintaining a healthy weight.

1. Spinal infection

If your spine or the surrounding tissues are infected, you may experience lower back pain. You may also feel some pain or tingling sensation which radiates down to your legs if the spinal nerves are damaged. Additional symptoms that may indicate a spine infection include chills, a fever, redness, swelling, and the affected area feeling warm. A spinal infection can be due to surgery complications, back injuries, cancer, diabetes, conditions that weaken the immune system, and if infections from other parts of the body spread to the spine. 

Treatments include surgical drainage, antibiotic drugs, or antifungal medications. 

1. Arthritis

Arthritis is a combination of conditions that cause pain and inflammation of the joints. If the inflammation occurs on the joints in the lower spine and hips, you will experience back pain, which will also spread to the legs. The common types of arthritis are namely osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and psoriatic arthritis. The latter two types come by as a result of a faulty immune system that attacks healthy joints. With osteoarthritis, the joint cartilage wears down gradually. 

Treatment options range from medication to lifestyle changes and physical therapy. For severe cases, doctors may recommend surgery.

1. Sciatica

Sciatica is characterized by pain in on the sciatic nerve when someone or something puts pressure on it. The pain is sharp, feels like a burn and a stab, and it runs down to the buttocks and lower legs. While it gets better on its own, you can also benefit from medications, stretching, physical therapy, and surgery.

You can treat back pain at home, but it is crucial to see a doctor when the pain is too severe or is worsening and spreading to other areas of the body. If the back pain also comes with other symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and diarrhea, it may be time to see a doctor.