Many people don't think of the muscles in the lower back unless they're injured in some way, causing pain or limited range of motion. Muscles in the lower back are involved in almost everything we do, and pulls in the region may be caused by activities ranging from picking up a full laundry basket the wrong way to lifting heavy bags of cement. According to the Mayo Clinic, half of those with back pain will see relief from symptoms within two weeks; 80 percent to 90 percent of people report less pain within six to eight weeks. Learning to recognize the signs of pulled muscles in the lower back helps you receive proper treatment to prevent more serious injury.
Pain
Pain is the body's signal that something is not right. A pulled muscle in the lower back is often caused by overuse, and may even indicate a torn muscle. Depending on the severity of the muscle pull or injury, pain may dull and aching, or sharp and stabbing, states bigbackpain.com. Pain may also occur in surrounding muscle tissues, such as the buttocks, hips or thighs. While the location of the original muscle pull is precise, inflammation and irritation to surrounding muscles and tissues may cause radiating pain throughout the entire lower-back region. Symptoms generally will not radiate into the legs or upper back, however. In some cases, it may be difficult for a person suffering from a lower-back pull to be comfortable in any position, whether sitting, lying down or standing. Such symptoms are usually most severe in the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury, the Mayo Clinic says.
Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms are sudden and sometimes very painful episodes caused when the muscles clench to protect themselves from further injury. At times, spasms may feel like a cramp, but they may also be sudden and severe, as if you've just been shocked with electricity. Spasms are considered a type of abnormal muscle contraction, the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center states--and if a muscle pull is near the spinal column, such spasms may cause extreme pain.
Inflammation
It's hard to see inflammation per se in the case of a lower-back muscle injury, but you can often see reddened tissues over the injured area or you may even feel heat over inflamed or swollen tissues. Bleeding or torn blood vessels or muscular tissues beneath the surface of the skin cause inflammation. This results in a bruise or dull pink or reddish color on the surface of the skin over the injury.
Stiffness
Depending on the area affected, a pulled back muscle may also cause stiffness, limiting your range of motion and mobility. In many cases, an individual may have trouble bending over or twisting from one side to the other. Stiffness may feel worse in the morning after lying in bed.
