Pinched Strains & Sprains

Back pain can originate from many sources. And, not all of these involve spinal degeneration. Neck or lower back pain—even tingling pain that radiates from our spine and into our extremities—can result from something as simple as a strained muscle or a sprained ligament. Pinched strains & sprains can occur while we execute a variety of everyday movements. Unfortunately, these injuries only become more common as we age.

Strenuous activity; not properly stretching or warming up before participating in exercise; or simply bending over or twisting the wrong way can be enough to damage the muscles that support our spine. Our lower backs can be especially at risk for strains and sprains, because our lumbar spine bears the brunt of the upper body’s weight.

The muscles that reinforce our spine are responsible for flexibility, stability, and the comfortable movements of our spine. Our muscle tissue is fibrous. A rip in one of these fibers is called a strain. Strains can be extremely painful, and the healing process can be lengthy. The process can be even lengthier if the strain involves a muscle group such as the extensors, flexors, or obliques. These muscles (as their names imply) permit for the extension, flexion, and rotation of our spine.

Ligaments connect our spinal bones together at joints. Injuries to these ligaments are called sprains. Sprains can range from mild to severe, depending upon the movement that caused the sprain and the severity of the injury. If the ligament is torn, the healing time is extremely long and movement can be limited for up to several weeks.

Both sprains and strains in the back can cause pinched spinal nerves. Pinched spinal nerves can cause back pain, as well as tingling discomfort that radiates out to the limbs, numbness, or limited mobility in the affected extremities.