Low Back Pain
Causes
A broad assortment of injuries and conditions can cause lower back pain. A sudden fracture, scoliosis, or simple overuse can all irritate the lumbar nerves. Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include arthritis, compression fractures, spinal stenosis and herniated discs.
Symptoms
The specific symptoms of lower back pain generally depend on the cause, but the most common symptoms include:
- A sharp, shooting, or stabbing pain in the leg or buttock
- Chronically aching muscles
- A restricted range of motion in the back
- An inability to stand up straight
- Pain or discomfort when attempting to bend, stand, walk, lift objects, or sit
Diagnosis
Treatments for lower back pain vary from patient to patient, but in most cases, symptoms can be effectively managed with conservative measures like physical therapy. Other patients respond well to alternative approaches, such as acupuncture and yoga. In general, surgery is necessary only if these non-invasive courses of treatment fail to relieve your pain.
Treatment
Conservative treatments for lower back pain are designed to relieve pain and inflammation and restore a complete range of motion. In most cases, some combination of medication and physical therapy proves highly effective.
These are conservative treatments that may be recommended:
- Physical therapy
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
- Prescription of anti-inflammatories
- Cold and/or hot compresses
- Regular stretching
- Sleeping on your side with a pillow between the knees
- Trigger point injections
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections
- Lumbar epidural steroid injections
Surgery
While most cases of lower back pain respond well to conservative treatment, severe or persistent pain may be best treated with surgery. Should it be necessary, an orthopedic surgeon who can evaluate your condition and determine the best course of action.