Lower back pain is sometimes accompanied by a sharp, stabbing sensation, a stabbing pain, or a tingling sensation in the back or buttocks. If the pain comes on suddenly and without an obvious cause, it’s called lumbago. If the pain persists for more than three months, it’s called chronic lower back pain.
It’s important to know, however, that there’s no correlation between pain intensity and the severity of acute lower back pain. Sometimes, the pain is accompanied by a feeling of stiffness or even complete locking.
Lower Back Pain and Sciatica: What’s the Difference?
The pain of lumbago can be similar to that of sciatica. Lumbago can occur after a coughing fit or when standing up. Sciatica, less common than lumbago, is characterized by electric shock-like pain that begins in the lower back and may radiate to the foot.
This intense pain is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which itself is usually caused by a herniated disc or osteoarthritis. Sciatica is more persistent and difficult to treat than lumbago. Manual manipulation should not be performed when the sciatic nerve is affected.
