Pain In The Lower Back: How To Handle It
There are 5 vertebrae in the lower back. These are the 5 lumbar bones. They are cushioned by spinal discs that are covered with cartilage and made of a gel-like substance.
The spinal canal surrounds the spinal cord and the nerves that branch away from it. It runs the length of the spinal column. It is common to experience pain in the lower back because the lower back bears most of the weight of the torso. For this reason the muscles, nerves and spine are under a great deal of stress and subject to pain.
Doctors see patients for lower back pain quite frequently - almost as often as for the flu! Back pain can be caused by a lot of things, and in fact, it can have multiple causes in one patient. Injury and trauma are the most common causes of back pain. Here are a few examples:
A muscle injury is a strain.
A ligament injury is a sprain.
Sciatica: Pinched nerve.
Inflammation of a hip joint is called sacroiliitis.
Disc degeneration is caused by disease (such as arthritis).
Pressure can cause a herniated disc.
Strains and sprains may happen for a variety of reasons and may be caused by a combination of events. Poor posture, repeated improper lifting, and obesity damage the lower back a little bit at a time over time.
Click here for more on torn ACL reconstruction.
There are a number of ways to treat a sprain or strain. They include: hot and/or cold packs, ultrasound, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, traction and reduction in which the bones are maneuvered physically, and/or anesthetic or corticosteroid injections. It is very important to gently resume normal activity after a couple of days rest to avoid stiffness.
Anytime you have back pain, one of the best ways to alleviate it is through conditioning and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. This can be done by using specific exercises recommended by your health care professional and by adding aerobic conditioning to your daily activities.
If you have tried all of the non-surgical options without relief, you may wish to consider surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common back surgery. It works by limiting the movement in the most painful area of your back.
If your pain is reduced, your surgery is successful. Keep in mind, however, that it may take more than a year to experience full recovery. Additionally, it is quite unusual for a person to truly have complete relief of pain. Discuss all of the options with your doctor. You may find that surgery is not the right treatment for your situation.
Click here for more on knee surgery and knee surgeons.
The spinal canal surrounds the spinal cord and the nerves that branch away from it. It runs the length of the spinal column. It is common to experience pain in the lower back because the lower back bears most of the weight of the torso. For this reason the muscles, nerves and spine are under a great deal of stress and subject to pain.
Doctors see patients for lower back pain quite frequently - almost as often as for the flu! Back pain can be caused by a lot of things, and in fact, it can have multiple causes in one patient. Injury and trauma are the most common causes of back pain. Here are a few examples:
A muscle injury is a strain.
A ligament injury is a sprain.
Sciatica: Pinched nerve.
Inflammation of a hip joint is called sacroiliitis.
Disc degeneration is caused by disease (such as arthritis).
Pressure can cause a herniated disc.
Strains and sprains may happen for a variety of reasons and may be caused by a combination of events. Poor posture, repeated improper lifting, and obesity damage the lower back a little bit at a time over time.
Click here for more on torn ACL reconstruction.
There are a number of ways to treat a sprain or strain. They include: hot and/or cold packs, ultrasound, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, traction and reduction in which the bones are maneuvered physically, and/or anesthetic or corticosteroid injections. It is very important to gently resume normal activity after a couple of days rest to avoid stiffness.
Anytime you have back pain, one of the best ways to alleviate it is through conditioning and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. This can be done by using specific exercises recommended by your health care professional and by adding aerobic conditioning to your daily activities.
If you have tried all of the non-surgical options without relief, you may wish to consider surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common back surgery. It works by limiting the movement in the most painful area of your back.
If your pain is reduced, your surgery is successful. Keep in mind, however, that it may take more than a year to experience full recovery. Additionally, it is quite unusual for a person to truly have complete relief of pain. Discuss all of the options with your doctor. You may find that surgery is not the right treatment for your situation.
Click here for more on knee surgery and knee surgeons.
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with more than 20 years experience focusing on knee surgery. After 19 years of practice, he opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, Phoenix knee surgery and ACL Reconstruction in Phoenix, Arizona.
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