What Are the Symptoms of Lumbar Muscle Injury?

Lumbar muscle injury, commonly known as lumbar muscle strain, is generally caused by long-term poor posture of the waist. It can also be caused by improper treatment after a waist sprain. Regardless of the cause, it is essential to actively seek treatment for lumbar muscle strain. Failure to do so promptly can have significant impacts on daily life and work. When the waist is exposed to cold or becomes fatigued, the symptoms of lumbar muscle strain can worsen, affecting physical health.

What are the symptoms of lumbar muscle injury? Lumbar muscle injury typically manifests as soreness or distending pain in the waist. Some patients may experience stabbing or burning pain. The pain often intensifies after exposure to cold or physical exertion and can be relieved after resting. Patients may find it difficult to bend over for extended periods, and there may be tender points in the waist, often located in the sacrospinal muscle or posterior iliac crest. In a minority of patients, there may be limited movement of the lumbar spine.

Treatment involves reducing poor sitting posture, limiting the time spent in a hunched position, performing moderate functional exercises for the waist and back muscles, and avoiding exposure to cold. Methods such as hot compresses, massage, and physical therapy can be tried to promote blood circulation.

The harms of lumbar muscle strain include:

1. Lumbar disc herniation or lumbar stenosis: If lumbar muscle strain recurs frequently, it can lead to more severe complications such as lumbar disc herniation or lumbar stenosis.

2. Lumbar myofascial aseptic inflammation: Long-term bending or sitting can cause the lumbar muscles to be in a state of constant tension, leading to spasms, ischemia, edema, and adhesions. This is sometimes referred to as aseptic inflammation.

3. Accumulative injury: If the ligaments of the waist muscles are severely damaged, it can cause small-scale fiber ruptures, bleeding, and exudation. These tissues are susceptible to traction and compression of internal nerve fibers, resulting in low back pain.

4. Acute lumbar sprain: If acute lumbar sprain is not treated thoroughly during the acute phase, incomplete repair of the damaged muscles, fascia, and ligaments can lead to the formation of scars and adhesions. This can reduce the function of the waist and make it prone to pain. Patients with lumbar muscle strain often feel a lack of strength in their waist, especially during rainy or cloudy days, when they may experience soreness and pain in the lower back.