Low Back Pain: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What You Can Do About It..

Lumbar Disc Pain

What is Lumbar Disc Injury? How is it Identified?

A lumbar disc injury refers to damage or irritation of one of the intervertebral discs in your lower back. These discs sit between each vertebra and act like shock absorbers—allowing your spine to bend, move, and handle load.

Each disc has two main parts:

• A tough outer layer (annulus)

• A softer, gel-like centre (nucleus)

When a disc is overloaded, strained, or gradually worn down, the inner material can push outward. This is commonly referred to as a disc bulge, protrusion, or herniation.

In some cases, the disc itself becomes painful. In others, it can irritate nearby nerves—leading to symptoms that travel into the leg (Sciatica).

Common Symptoms:

• Central lower back pain

• Can feel deep, sharp, or achey

• Often worse after sitting or bending

• Worse with: bending forward, sitting, tying shoes

• Better with: standing, walking, or lying flat (in many cases)

Patients often say things like:

• “I bent over and felt something go”

• “My back locked up”

• “It came on gradually but hasn’t gone away”

Key Concept: "Load vs Capacity Imbalance"

This pain occurs when the load on your body exceeds what its currently able to handle. Think of load like exercise, gym, prolonged sitting, lifting. Now think of capacity as strength, coordination, mobility.

What we find is everyday people who sit all day and then suddenly get into high intensity exercises tend to experience this back pain more than ever. The technological world has part to blame however we as humans are designed to move.

Why has it happened now?

Back pain is rarely from one incident alone. We tend to see an accumulation of tight muscles and poor postures. Combine this with forceful movement or increased load and pain can set in. Movement dysfunction is the main driver to pain - Rather than your body working together, it is forcing one and other to complete the movement. We need movement synergy more than ever!

What are the Benefits of Physio for Lumbar Facet Joint Pain?

Physiotherapy will focus on what is causing your current symptoms. Reduce the pain using our pain relief modalities and guide your body back to full mobility (stretches) and building life-long foundational strength (Endurance & Strength rehab exercises). This is the key!

Overall our goals are the same as yours. Getting you back to what you need to do. If you think you are ready to finally sort your low back pain click below to make an appointment with us.

• Lets Take a Second to Understand Your Pain

• The Rehab Club - Cadyn Bennett Physiotherapist