Orthopedics-Online

Burning in the lower back

introduction

Burning in the back describes a subjectively experienced discomfort that can have various causes.
It is a special expression of pain. The burning sensation can appear superficially on the skin or be perceived as a symptom coming from deep in the back. An occasional or only short-term burning sensation in the back is generally not considered to be a disease and usually subsides on its own. A doctor should only be consulted for clarification if the burning sensation is very pronounced, persists for a long time or if accompanying symptoms such as paralysis or numbness occur in the legs.

causes

A burning sensation in the lower back can have a multitude of possible causes, but only in very rare cases is there a specific disease that requires treatment.

Most often, a burning sensation in the lower back is caused by the components of the musculoskeletal system, i.e. the vertebral bodies and the joints through which they are connected, as well as the muscles of the lower back. Inadequate, under- or overstressing, for example, can lead to muscle tension, which in turn stimulates nerves. The nerves ultimately convey the sensation of burning in the lower back.

Shingles can develop on the lower back in the elderly, as well as in patients with a weakness of the immune system, which is usually expressed by burning pain, usually severe on one side.

In rare cases, the symptom can also indicate a disease of internal organs such as the intestines or the abdominal aorta. In the case of severe and long-standing complaints, a doctor should therefore be consulted to clarify the cause of the burning sensation in the lower back.

You might also be interested in: Lower Back Pain - How It's Treated

Herniated disc of the lumbar spine

In the case of a herniated disc of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine), one of the intervertebral discs between the vertebral bodies presses on a nerve root that arises from the spinal cord. Typical symptoms of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine are severe pain that radiates from the lower back into one leg. The entire leg is typically not affected, but often only a strip that runs from the thigh over the lower leg to the foot. The pain character can definitely be experienced as burning. However, if the only symptom is a burning sensation in the lower back, a herniated disc is usually not the cause. On the other hand, discomfort in the leg and possible muscle weakness up to paralysis of parts of the leg or foot speak for a herniated disc.

Read more about this at: Herniated disc of the lumbar spine

Pregnancy as a cause

During pregnancy, many women experience lower back complaints such as burning or pain.
In the vast majority of cases this has a harmless cause and there is no danger to the child or the mother-to-be. The frequent occurrence of back problems during pregnancy can be explained by various factors. On the one hand, the luteal hormone (progesterone) is released in early pregnancy. In addition to many other effects, this leads to the loosening of ligaments, tendons and joints. This is to slowly prepare the woman's body for the birth of the child. However, a negative consequence of this effect is that the stability of the spine is impaired, which in turn can lead to symptoms such as burning or pain in the lower back.
On the other hand, the growing child and the constantly expanding uterus lead to increasing pressure on the spine. This can manifest itself in an unusual burning sensation in the lower back, especially during the first pregnancy. It is only advisable to consult a doctor if the symptoms persist for a long time or if very severe pain occurs. They will investigate whether there is a serious cause behind the burning sensation in the lower back. However, this is very rarely the case. Warm and relaxing baths can help with the mostly harmless symptoms. In addition, pregnant women should not carry heavy loads. Certain sports such as swimming, gymnastics, aqua courses or yoga can also help against the symptoms and are also possible during pregnancy.

Further information on the topic:

Back pain in pregnancy
Yoga in pregnancy

Appointment with a back specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
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The spine is difficult to treat. On the one hand it is exposed to high mechanical loads, on the other hand it has great mobility.

The treatment of the spine (e.g. herniated disc, facet syndrome, foramen stenosis, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I focus on a wide variety of diseases of the spine.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

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Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert

Duration

The length of time a burning sensation in the back lasts can vary widely and may provide clues as to the cause.
If the symptom only lasts for a few seconds or minutes, it is usually just a faulty signal transmission of the nerves, with no actual cause in the back. In the case of long-lasting or recurring complaints, the causes are diverse. If the burning sensation is accompanied by severe pain that begins very suddenly or persists for two weeks and does not subside, a medical examination is recommended.

Symptoms

A burning sensation in the back is often accompanied by other pain qualities such as pulling or stinging. If there is also shooting pain, the symptoms are usually caused by nerve irritation. This can be caused, for example, by muscular tension.

If paralysis or paralysis occurs in one leg as accompanying symptoms, a herniated disc is a likely cause.

If, on the other hand, there is also a fever, an inflammatory cause of the burning sensation in the back must also be considered.

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Pain

When a burning sensation is felt in the lower back, it is usually a specific quality of pain.
However, the perception of pain differs from person to person and the description of the character of pain can be very different from person to person for comparable complaints. This is also due to the fact that every person has their own pain perception. Burning pain in the lower back cannot be assigned to any specific cause and basically all possible triggers for pain in this region can be considered.

Pulling in the lower back

Lower back complaints are often described as drawing or burning. This can be about the same sensation and the same causes, but these are named differently due to the individually different perception. This is usually a description of a pain character.

Pulling pains are usually referred to as those that cannot be precisely localized and often also have a radiation. Pulling pain in the lower back often radiates to the legs.

On the other hand, pain is often described as burning if it occurs more superficially and limited in its spread. However, there is no clear demarcation between the different qualities of possible complaints in the lower back, so that these are often referred to as pulling and burning.

You can read additional information here: Pulling in the back

diagnosis

In order for the doctor to be able to make a diagnosis of the symptom of burning in the back, a targeted discussion with the patient is first necessary. Among other things, the doctor will ask how long the symptoms have existed, where exactly they occur and what causes them. Other possible symptoms such as fever or fatigue are also relevant.

In addition, a brief medical examination is usually carried out. The doctor can determine possible abnormalities by looking at and touching the back.

Often the results of a medical interview and physical examination already enable a diagnosis or at least a suspected diagnosis.Only in a few cases is it appropriate that further diagnostic measures such as a blood draw or imaging are carried out.

Also read: Diagnosis of back pain

therapy

Whether or how a burning sensation in the lower back can be treated depends on the cause of the discomfort. Since symptoms such as burning sensation or pain in this area originate in the muscles and joints in most cases, active measures to improve mobility and strength of the back are the most important components of therapy. Swimming, Nordic walking or light strength training, for example as part of a back training course, are particularly suitable.

On the other hand, relieving posture, prolonged sitting and the use of exclusively passive measures such as massage should be avoided.

In addition to the active measures, heat applications such as red light or a visit to the sauna can provide relief. The treatment measures mentioned usually apply even if a herniated disc is the cause of the symptoms. Only in very rare cases is the burning sensation in the lower back a cause that should be treated directly.

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