Low back pain
What is it?
Low back pain can range from mild, annoying pain, to persistent, strong, disabling pain in the lower back. The exact cause of low back pain can be hard to determine, because it can be it can be triggered by various causes, including any of these:
- Exposure to repeated activities that are performed in an inadequate manner in relation to the position and loading of body parts
- Injury
- Obesity
- Degeneration of vertebrae
- Spinal stenosis
- Infection
- Tumor
- Muscle tension or spasm
- Ligament or muscle tears
- Herniated disk
- Various diseases, such as osteoarthritis and spondylitis
Symptoms
Low back pain is classified as acute and chronic. Acute low back pain lasts from a few days to a few weeks and resolves on its own. Chronic low back pain lasts for more than 3 months and often gets worse. The pain may radiate into one or both buttocks or even into the thigh, hip, lower leg, and foot.
Diagnoses
Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests for low back pain may include X-ray, CT scan, MRI, radionuclide bone scan, and electromyogram (EMG).
Treatment
Treatment plan may include:
- Changing the way we perform our daily and work activities
- Medications
- Physical rehabilitation, therapy, or both
- Weight loss (if overweight)
- Quit smoking
- Surgery
When conservative treatment for low back pain does not provide relief or neurologic symptoms are worsening, surgery may be needed. Candidates for surgery present any of the following:
- Reasonably good health
- Back and leg pain drastically impairs quality of life
- Loss of normal bowel and bladder functions
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Medication and physical therapy are ineffective
If surgery is recommended, spinal surgeon have a variety of options available to help relieve pressure on the nerve roots.