Types of Back Pain in the Injured Worker

By Dr. Dwight S. Tyndall, MD, FAAOS

Common types of back injury

Lumbar disc injury. With age or with repetitive use of the lumbar spine, injury to the lumbar disc can occur. In this circumstance the injured worker might complain of a deep seated back pain that is worse with activities and better with rest.
Facet joint injury. Injury to the facet joints can lead to back pain that is better with rest and worse with activities, especially extension or bending backwards.
Ligament, muscle, or nerve injury. Ligament or muscle injury presents mainly as muscle spasms which can be very painful and make movement very difficult. Lumbar nerve injury can present as back pain, buttock pain, and more classically as radiation pain down into the legs.

How the injured worker can present

The injured worker can present with the following:

Central lower back pain
Lower back pain with radiation to the buttock and hip region
Lower back pain with radiating leg pain
Leg pain and weakness

When to seek urgent evaluation

If any of these symptoms are accompanied by loss of bladder or bowel control, the injured worker might have more than just a lower back injury. Loss of bladder and bowel control would indicate severe damage to the nerves in the lower spine and indicate for urgent evaluation and possibly surgical treatment.

Adjusters and case managers: see Dr. Tyndall’s plain-English spine terms reference for the diagnoses, abbreviations, and procedures common to spine claims.

Have questions about a work-related back injury?

Dr. Tyndall sees injured workers at his Crown Point and Schererville offices.

Call (219) 250-5035