Due to our hectic lifestyles, back pain is the most common issue. There can be multiple reasons why your back might hurt, which may not necessarily an emergency. However, if you experience blinding pain along with burning sensations, this may indicate a more serious cause of pain.
The presence of Inflammation/swelling or burning sensation in your lower back, which can spread into your butt or legs can be an indication that there has been some internal damage to the body. An initial self treatment consisting of rest and the use ice or heated packs can be a good start before seeing a specialist. But if that doesn’t work, the best way to treat it is by consulting a specialist.
Let’s learn how to relieve burning back pain. Understand what causes a burning sensation in your back and what the burning sensation in the middle of your back is called.
What Burning Sensation in Back Indicates?
There are multiple reasons why one endures back pain. However, a burning sensation in your lower back is a dangerous sign. It is usually your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong with your body. We’re about to discuss the potential reasons or diseases indicated by lower back inflammation.
Arachnoiditis
It is usually caused by trauma, infection, or irritation. It is an infrequent nerve condition that generally feels like an unbearable stinging or burning pain in your back.
It is named after the Greek word for “spiders” (Arachne). Because the disease stems from scarring of the spider web-like tissues that shield your spine.
It’s typically rendered by spinal surgery, chemicals from older diagnostic tests, chronic compression of your spinal nerves, and direct injury to your spine. Occasionally, it can occur from a virus or bacteria. The symptoms of arachnoiditis are given below:
- Paralysis
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Sexual dysfunction
- Weakness
- Problems with the bladder and bowels
- Spasms
- Arthritis
General wear and tear in cartilage, joints, and discs in the back is called arthritis. It induces inflammation and stiffness in and around the joints.
The most widespread arthritis is osteoarthritis, which often affects the spine. A telltale symptom of osteoarthritis is a pain in the lower back that becomes more alarming when one bends over or turns to the side.
It is relatively common in people 45+ and those who are obese.
Disc Problems
The discs are a cushion in our back that separates and protects our spine’s vertebrae (bones). Any pain or issue regarding the sciatic nerve can lead to sciatica.
Sciatica is the pan that travels from the lower back to the feet. The breakdown of one or more discs could lead to degenerative disc disease, and bony growth could also cause inflammation in the back.
Herniated discs are one of the more frequently seen causes of disc problems. Ultimately, disc problems can provoke spinal stenosis, which emerges when the spinal column narrows and squeezes the spinal cord.
It can worsen if repeated pressure is applied. For example, sitting throughout the day, intense workouts, frequent bending, and other activities could lead to instability and weakened joints.
We have discussed herniated disks, spinal stenosis, and sciatica. Other conditions caused by disk impairment are scoliosis and spondylolisthesis.
Shingles
Pain with inflammation, along with rashes, is called shingles. They feel like your skin has been burned, and you will experience extreme pain.
Shingles is a disease of the body’s nerves induced by the exact virus that causes chickenpox (the varicella-zoster virus, or VZV). Once you’ve had chickenpox, VZV can remain dormant in your body for decades.
Reactivation of VZV can cause blister-filled, painful rashes close to the torso. It can interfere with movement and even the simplest tasks, such as walking.
Untreated shingles can lead to chronic burning back pain. It is called postherpetic neuralgia, and it takes months or even years to treat.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is an autoimmune disorder caused by harm or damage to the myelinated sheaths, which improve nerve conductivity.
The most common symptoms or indications are squeezing, stabbing, telltale tingling, itching, or burning neuropathic pain. It starts from the back of the neck and travels down to the back of the feet.
Back Spasms and Bone Spurs
Back or muscle spasms are the most common and primary cause of back pain. They occur when a muscle is overpulled or stretched, causing back pain.
Unwanted growth along bones or joints occurs due to stressors and joint instability. In some cases, bone growth protrudes to the point it reaches the nerves in the spine and compresses them.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease can generate burning sensations in the back through peripheral neuropathy. This happens when the nerves that transmit signals throughout your body become damaged.
The fugitive behind this damage can be inflammation. It is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.
The infection starts from the tick bite. After 36 hours, the bacteria starts to invade the blood of the infected person, which triggers an immune response such as raising the body temperature;
This further leads to inflammation of the nerve tissue. Which in turn damages nerves and bacteria.
Damage to the nerve cells sends abnormal signals to the brain. The brain interprets it as a burning sensation.
Other Diseases that Cause Inflamed Back Pain
We have discussed some more common diseases; however, other diseases trigger inflammation and back pain:
- Appendicitis
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Testicular torsion or injury
- Sciatic nerve
- Cancer
- Urinary tract infections
- Fibromyalgia
- Liver problems
- Pregnancy
- Uterine fibroids
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder inflammation
- Endometriosis
- Kidney stones and infection
- Stomach ulcers
Causes Of Burning Sensation in Lower Back
We discussed the diseases that have a burning sensation in the lower back as a symptom. Now, we will preview what causes lower back pain with inflammation.
Fever, Flu, Menses, Cough And Heavy Lifting
The general cause of back pain is fever. Due to an abnormal body temperature, our body experiences burnout or tiredness, which is why we experience burning pain in our lower back.
As for the flu and cough, the flu directly impacts the functioning of the back, which could lead to misinterpretation of the neural messages. While coughing, our body uses extra strength to blow out the cough, which might tire the body and cause inflammation.
Inflamed lower backs in women are usually caused by periods. Due to constant bleeding, our body loses the strength to function normally, and since most of our weight is on our lower body, this leads to a burning sensation in the lower back.
One and most straightforward reasons why you might experience pain in the lower back is due to lifting heavy objects.
Other Causes Of Pain And Burning Sensation in Lower Back
Other most usual and widely happening causes of inflamed pain are:
- Lifting hefty weights at the gym
- Lifting a heavy box
- Overstretching
- Dragging furniture
- Carrying extra weight from pregnancy
- Sitting or standing for long times
- Twisting while practicing sports, such as tennis or golf
- Wearing a purse, bag, or backpack over one shoulder
- Twisting the back incorrectly while carrying weight
- Engaging in physical contact sports
- Performing physical labor
Symptoms of Burning Sensations in Lower Back
Symptoms of lower back inflamed pain can vary according to the severity of the disease. However, some of the most common symptoms are:
- Prickling sensation on the skin
- Reddish inflammation
- Numbness
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Pain under the skin
- Rashes or redness on the skin
- Fever
- Tenderness
- Increased sensitivity
Tips To Prevent Burning Sensations In Lower Back
Following these tips can improve lower back pain and reduce inflammation:
- Improve overall posture
- Strengthen the back and improve flexibility.
- Maintain stability to avoid falls.
- Reduce stiffness by keeping connective fibers or ligaments and tendons flexible.
Conclusion: The Treatment Of Burning Sensation In Lower Back
Standard and quick treatments for pain are cold packs and heat pads. They stimulate the blood flow and diminish the pain. Instead of relying on pain medications like Narcotics (Tramadol,Oxycodone, Norco, Hydrocodone) or over the counter anti-inflammatories, which can often be hard on your stomach, liver and other organs, physical therapy is a great option. The use of massage/joint mobilization treatment coupled with carefully chosen exercises and stretches can often help alleviate most if not all burning low back symptoms.
Explore More:
