Lower back pain. how to tell the difference between muscle strain n slipped lumbar disc?

One can cause other: it is kind of you should be called instability, which can cause a muscle strain. We call that muscle guarding in the osteopathic world. The way to really differentiate a problem from a discrimination, use when the disc is pressing on the nerve causing shooting pain down the leg. This is when its a surgical problem. When the pain is on the back, even if there was a disk involve, it is non surgical.

Some differences: Muscle strain: Soreness in the back, but not buttocks, thigh or leg. Better with rest, ibuprofen, heat. Heals in 6 weeks (unless re-injured). "Slipped disc": Actually a disc herniation. Has muscle soreness as above since muscles try to protect the back. May have buttock, thigh and/or leg pain. Worse after prolonged sitting. May have leg numbness, tingling or weakness. Does not heal in 6 weeks.