“My Back Went Out”: What Actually Happened in That Moment

Almost everyone who has experienced it describes it the same way.

You bent down to pick something up. Something trivial. A sock, a bag of groceries, the bottom drawer of the dishwasher. And something in your back seized so violently that you could not straighten up.

For the next few minutes you were stuck in a half bent position, breathing carefully, wondering whether you had done something catastrophic.

It is one of the most frightening physical experiences people have, largely because the severity feels like it must mean serious damage.

Why You Can Ride a Bike for an Hour But Can’t Walk to the Mailbox

There is a pattern of back and leg pain that behaves unlike anything else, and once you know it you cannot miss it.

You can stand for a few minutes before your legs start to ache, cramp or feel heavy.

Walking makes it worse, and the distance you can manage keeps shrinking. It used to be a mile. Then a few blocks. Now it is to the end of the street.

But sitting down fixes it within a minute or two.

Is Your Back Pain Caused By a Herniated Disc?

If you have had back pain, there is a chance it is caused by a herniated disk. A herniated disc can place extra pressure around the spinal column on the muscles and nerves. Your symptoms may include pain on one side of the body, pain that radiates to the arms or legs, pain in the … Read more