Treatment of Low Back Pain
 
 

Treatment for any back condition is recommended as soon as possible to minimize the danger of further aggravation.

Factors associated with low back pain:

  • An injury to the spine such as a fracture
  • Smoking 
  • Long term exposure to vibration 
  • Obesity
  • Muscle weakness
  • Poor Posture
  • Breakdown of cartilage and other spinal structures that comes with aging
  • Radiculopathy - a pinched nerve
  • Spinal Stenosis

The symptoms of low back pain vary. 

  • Pain itself may be dull, aching, shooting or stabbing
  • You may feel pain in your back, hips, buttocks, or legs
  • Limited range of motion
  • Numbness or tenderness

Most people find that reclining or lying down will improve their pain.  Most people are worse when they bend over to pick something up.

Treatments for back pain may vary:

  • Physical exam and back education by an Orthopaedic Physician or Physiatrist. 
  • A few days of rest can often calm the pain
  • Medications such as non steroidal anti inflammatory drug or  (Tylenol) can be helpful. 
  • Stronger medications such as muscle relaxants and narcotics are used for a short period prescribed by a physician.
  • Back brace may help
  • Maintaining good posture 
  • Good course of exercise and stretching. Restoring motion and strength to a painful lumbar spine can be very helpful at improving pain.
  • Passive modalities such as heat, cold, massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction and acupuncture and spinal manipulation.
  • Injections are sometimes used. The most commonly used  are steroids. They are usually given either in the area that is felt to possibly be the source of the pain, such as into a muscle or facet joint, or around the nerves of the spine (an epidural or nerve root injection). Injections are occasionally placed into the disc.
  • Surgery - more aggressive treatment of back pain.

Surgery for low back pain should only be performed when a number of conditions have been met.

  • Nonsurgical treatment options have been tried and have failed.
  • The surgeon feels there is enough possibility that the individual patient will have a good chance of having a successful result with surgery.

A great deal of research is being performed to help doctors understand and treat low back pain.





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