Our spine handles a lot of stress throughout the course of the day, and this stress is amplified when we bend and twist. If these actions cause you to feel some pressure or tightness in a specific area, you may be wondering what’s going on in your spine. In today’s blog, we explain what’s happening in your spine if you are dealing with pressure or discomfort when bending.
Back Pain When Bending Over
When you bend forward, a few things happen in your spine. For starters, your spinal discs will be forced to handle more stress as they shift out of a natural and sturdy alignment. Also, bending forward can lead to a narrowing of spinal openings through which key nerves pass. These two changes can lead to a few issues that can contribute to pressure or pain in a specific area of your spine. You may be dealing with:
- Early Warning Sign Of A Bulging Or Herniated Disc – As we mentioned above, your spinal discs will be under more pressure when you bend your spine forward. These durable discs are designed to handle this pressure and aid in spinal mobility, but they aren’t invincible. If they are overloaded with stress, the soft inner nucleus of the disc can break through the tough outer shell. This process can be quite uncomfortable, especially if the disc material irritates nearby spinal nerves. If you bend over and feel an acute moment of pain, you may have experienced a bulging or herniated disc. If you bend over and pressure is concentrated in one area, it may suggest that a disc is nearing the point of herniation. You’ll want to change your posture and work to strengthen your spine to avoid a herniation.
- Sciatica – Other people may notice pressure or pain in their lumbar spine or hip area when bending due to sciatic nerve impingement. As we noted above, bending can lead to a narrowing of the openings through which spinal nerves pass. Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, and if bending causes changes that lead to compression or irritation, it may present with pressure or localized pain. Exercise, weight loss, posture improvements and gentle physical therapy exercises can help to relieve discomfort and make it less likely that symptoms will return when bending.
- Muscle Injury – Finally, the pressure or pain that you’re experiencing when bending over may be the result of a muscle strain. Your muscles are also working harder when supporting a bent spine, and if they are overstressed, they can become strained and overstretched. This can lead to inflammation and discomfort in the region, especially when bending or moving the area. Spinal muscle strains tend to heal well with the help of conservative treatments like rest, posture improvements and stretching exercises.
Pressure in an area of your spine when bending should signal that you’ll want to be a little more proactive about your spine health, because a back injury could be in the near future if you keep pushing forward as if nothing is wrong. Prevention is much preferred to treatment, so know that pressure or mild discomfort is oftentimes a sign that an area of your spine is overstressed and in need of attention. Taking a few simple steps to improve your posture, strengthen the area and lose a little weight can do wonders for your back now and in the future.
For more information, or for help treating a new or existing spinal condition, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
