Lower Back Pain in Mesa: When It’s a Muscle, When It’s a Disc, and How to Tell the Difference
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people in the East Valley seek our care. After more than 40 years treating acute and chronic spinal conditions, one of the first questions patients ask me is: “How do I know if my pain is coming from a muscle or a disc?”
The good news is that your body gives clear signals if you know what to look for. Understanding those signs can help you get the right treatment sooner and avoid making the problem worse.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between muscle pain and disc pain, how each one feels, what triggers it, and when to seek a professional evaluation.
Muscle Pain: What It Feels Like and Why It Happens
Muscle related back pain is extremely common, especially in active adults, weekend warriors, and people who sit for long hours at work. It can happen suddenly, or it can build over time due to poor posture or repetitive strain.
How Muscle Pain Usually Feels
- A dull, achy soreness across the lower back
- Tightness or spasms, especially when bending or lifting
- Pain that improves when you move around
- Pain that worsens when pressing on the area
- At times can be sharp when you change positions, then fades
Typical Causes of Muscle Pain
- Lifting something awkwardly
- Prolonged sitting or driving
- Poor posture
- Weak core and/or spinal stabilizers
- Pain from exercise or daily activities
A Key Sign It’s a Muscle Problem
If you can pinpoint the exact spot that hurts and pressing on it makes the pain increases, it’s often muscular.
Disc Pain: What It Feels Like and When to Suspect It
Disc injuries, such as bulging or herniated discs behave very differently from muscle related pain. Disc problems are common in adults over 30 and usually develop over a number of years and may not cause pain all the time. They can become actively inflamed by repetitive trauma or from a specific incidence.
How Disc Pain Usually Feels
- Sharp, deep, or burning pain in the low back
- Pain that worsens with sitting, bending, coughing, or sneezing
- Pain that shoots down one leg (sciatica)
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the foot or leg
- Pain that improves when standing or walking
Typical Causes of Disc Pain
- Bending and twisting simultaneously
- Lifting something heavy with poor mechanics
- Prolonged compressive load (long drives, office work)
- Age-related disc dehydration and thinning
- Weak multifidus and deep spinal stabilizers
A Key Sign It’s a Disc Problem
If your pain radiates into the buttock, thigh, or leg, or if sitting makes your pain spike, it’s more likely disc-related than muscular.
Quick Comparison Chart
Symptom Muscle Pain Disc Pain
Location Localized soreness Deep pain, often radiating
Trigger Movement, stretching Sitting, bending, coughing
Quality Achy, tight, spasm Sharp, burning, shooting
Relief Rest Standing, lying flat
Aggravation Pressing on the area Sitting, bending forward
Other signs None Numbness, tingling, weakness
When to Seek Professional Help in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert or Tempe
You Should Be Seen If:
- Your pain lasts more than 7 to 10 days
- You have numbness or tingling down one leg
- Your pain wakes you from sleep
- Your pain gets worse with sitting
- You’ve had multiple flare-ups in the last year
- You have difficulty standing upright
- Your pain is worsening
These are signs of mechanical dysfunction that typically do not resolve on their own and may indicate a disc or segmental stability issue.
How We Identify the True Cause of Your Low Back Pain
At The Center for Total Back Care in Mesa, we use a detailed assessment process that determines the exact cause of your pain.
Our evaluation includes:
A Comprehensive Evaluation
To help identify which tissues are primary and secondary pain generators
2. Functional Movement Testing
To see how your spine loads, bends, and stabilizes under real-life conditions.
2. Strength Testing of the Deep Spinal Muscles
Using advanced equipment such as MedX, we can pinpoint segmental weakness—often the hidden cause behind recurring disc problems.
3. Posture and Alignment Screening
To identify mechanical stress patterns that contribute to pain.
4. Neurological Screening
To assess nerve involvement, especially if symptoms point toward disc irritation.
This level of precision allows us to create a treatment plan that targets the exact cause of your pain rather than masking symptoms.
Evidence-Based Treatment Options
Depending on whether your pain is muscular or disc-related, your plan may include:
- Targeted spinal rehabilitation to strengthen deep stabilizers
- Chiropractic care to restore mobility
- Pain-reducing modalities
- Disc-specific decompression strategies
- Posture and movement training
- Home exercises to prevent recurrence
Our goal is to not only reduce pain but restore long-term stability so flare-ups become less frequent or disappear altogether.
If You’re in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert or Tempe and Still Unsure What’s Causing Your Low Back Pain
You don’t have to guess. And you don’t have to live with recurring flare-ups or chronic pain.
If you’re dealing with persistent back pain, or if you're unsure whether it’s a muscle or a disc, schedule a professional evaluation and get clarity.
Visit totalback.com to book your appointment or call us (480) 633-8293 today.