What Are The Treatments For Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain usually gets better with rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers. After a few days of rest, you can start to get back to your normal activities. Staying active increases blood flow to the area and helps you heal.
Other treatments for lower back pain depend on the cause. They include:
- Medications: Your provider may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or prescription drugs to relieve pain. Other medications relax muscles and prevent back spasms.
- Physical therapy : PT can strengthen muscles so they can support your spine. PT also improves flexibility and helps you avoid another injury.
- Hands-on manipulation: Several hands-on treatments can relax tight muscles, reduce pain and improve posture and alignment. Depending on the cause of pain, you may need osteopathic manipulation or chiropractic adjustments. Massage therapy can also help with back pain relief and restore function.
- Injections: Your provider uses a needle to inject medication into the area thats causing pain. Steroid injections relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Surgery: Some injuries and conditions need surgical repair. There are several types of surgery for low back pain, including many minimally invasive techniques.
Half Lord Of The Fishes
Also known as Seated Twist posture, Ardha Matsyendrasana helps improve posture and spinal mobility in those with lower back pain. Dont allow your lower back to collapse as your perform this posture, and remember that a little goes a long way when twisting with lower back pain.
How to do half lord of the fishes posture: Sit with your legs extended out in front of you . Lift your right leg and place your foot on the ground beside your left knee. Bend your left leg and place the left foot on the outside of your right hip. Ground down through your hip bones, and inhale as you find length through the spine. Hook your left elbow on your right knee as you place your right hand behind you, and gently twist. Stay for 5 to 8 breaths.
When Does Your Lower Back Pain Require Medical Attention
Lower back pain is not only prevalent in the United States 80% of adults will have some experience with the problem it can also lead to years of frustration and discomfort. In fact, 20% of those who suffer from acute lower back pain go on to have chronic problems that have a significant impact on their ability to function normally.
At Mass Ave Chiropractic, Dr. Joseph Kielur and our team feel that lower back pain is something you should never ignore given how it can affect your life. We understand that the earlier we can address the problem, the better your chances are of avoiding chronic issues.
With that in mind, heres a look at when you should seek our help for your lower back pain.
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How Is Lower Back Pain Diagnosed
Your provider will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. To check for broken bones or other damage, your provider may order imaging studies. These studies help your provider see clear pictures of your vertebrae, disks, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Your provider may order:
- Spine X-ray, which uses radiation to produce images of bones.
- MRI, which uses a magnet and radio waves to create pictures of bones, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.
- CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to create 3D images of bones and soft tissues.
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Electromyography to test nerves and muscles and check for neuropathy , which can cause tingling or numbness in your legs.
Depending on the cause of pain, your provider may also order blood tests or urine tests. Blood tests can detect genetic markers for some conditions that cause back pain . Urine tests check for kidney stones, which cause pain in the flank .
When Does Your Back Pain Require Medical Attention
If you consider that more than 80% of adults in the United States will have some experience with lower back pain, you realize the extent of the problem. Back pain can range from overdoing it at the golf course to chronic arthritis that affects your ability to function normally, and everything in between. Whatever the circumstances of your back pain, there are times when seeking our help can help you get the much-needed relief youve been looking for.
At Comprehensive Pain Management, our team of interventional pain management specialists, led by Drs. Do Chan and Boris Shwartzman, understands the effects that back pain can have on your life, which is why we offer a broad range of traditional and cutting-edge treatment options.
If you’re experiencing back pain, heres a look at the problem and how we can help.
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You Have Numbness Tingling Or Weakness
Back pain accompanied by sensations of numbness, tingling or weakness could be a sign of nerve irritation or damage. This is especially true if the pain persists after taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Nerve pain is serious and can result in permanent damage or disability if left untreated.
Learn More: Listen to a podcast on pinched nerves.
What Type Of Doctor Should I See For Back Pain
This depends on your condition or symptoms. If you have no obvious injury that would explain your pain, you may want to start by seeing a . This is a specialist in physical medicine who can diagnose back pain and determine whether nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy may help. Depending on those findings, a physiatrist may also refer you to a , doctor or other type of back specialist, , for additional discussion.
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How Is Low Back Pain Treated
Treatment may include:
- A prevention program
- Assistive devices
Rehabilitation is often a part of treatment for low back pain. Generally, there are 3 phases of low back pain rehab.
- Acute phase. During this initial phase, the physiatrist and treatment team develop a plan to reduce the initial low back pain and source of inflammation. This may include using ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or specialized injections.
- Recovery phase. Once the initial pain and inflammation are better managed, the rehab team focuses on helping you return to normal daily activities while starting a specialized exercise program to regain flexibility and strength.
- Maintenance phase. In this phase, you will learn ways to prevent further injury and strain to the back. You will also learn how to start a fitness program to help further increase strength and endurance.
Know When To Seek Medical Care For Lower Back Pain
Back pain doesnt necessarily require medical attention in all cases. Mild pain that doesnt overly impair your movement or daily activities often goes away on its own. A bit of soreness should be relatively easy to treat with over-the-counter remedies. However, there are many instances when its a good idea to speak with your doctor.
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When Should I See A Doctor About Back Pain
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About 80% of adults experience back pain at some time in their lives. It’s one of most common reasons people see a doctor or miss work. The pain can range from a dull ache to sharp, sudden and debilitating pain.
For most people, back pain is mechanical in nature, which means the elements of your back and how they move together has changed.
Possible back conditions could include:
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Muscle or ligament strain
Heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain the muscles or ligaments in your back. Also, if you are overweight or in poor physical condition, the constant strain on your back can cause muscle fatigue and muscle spasms.
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Bulging or ruptured disk
Disks are the cushions between the bones in your spine. You can have bulging or ruptured disks that may or may not cause pain by compressing a nerve root and causing pain that radiates into the leg.
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Arthritis
Disks may narrow over time and cause your vertebrae to grind together resulting pain.
Most back pain even severe back pain goes away on its own in four to six weeks with self-care, such as rest, heat or ice, over-the-counter pain medication and exercise.
Surgery often is effective to correct a spinal deformity or instability issue. Surgery also is helpful to treat pain radiating down a leg due to compression of a nerve root in the spine if other conservative treatments have failed. However, surgery is not considered a good treatment for generalized back pain.
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The Importance Of An Accurate Diagnosis
The physician will need to take a careful medical history and do a physical exam to look for certain red flags that indicate the need for an X-ray or other imaging test. In most cases, however, imaging such as X-ray, MRI , or CT scan is unnecessary.
There may also be certain clues in a patients medical history. Low back, nonradiating pain is commonly due to muscle strain and spasm. Pain that radiates into the buttock and down the leg may be due to , a condition in which a bulging disc presses on the sciatic nerve, which extends down the spinal column to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the leg. This nerve compression causes pain in the lower back radiating through the buttocks and down one leg, which can go to below the knee, often combined with localized areas of numbness. In the most extreme cases, the patient experiences weakness in addition to numbness and pain, which suggests the need for quick evaluation.
A persistent shooting or tingling pain may suggest lumbar disc disease. A pain that comes and goes, reaching a peak and then quieting for a minute or two, only to reach a peak again, may suggest an altogether different cause of back pain, such as a kidney stone.
When tumor or infection are suspected, the doctor may order blood tests, including a CBC and sedimentation rate .
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Lower Back Pain Caused By Infection
Infections of the spine are not common, but they do occur. The doctor will ask about the usual signs and symptoms of infection, especially when back pain is accompanied by fever and/or chills. Dialysis patients, IV drug users, and patients who have recently had surgery, trauma, or skin infections are at risk for infections of the spine. Infections of the spine can be caused by a number of agents, most commonly bacteria. Doctors will first test for the presence of bacteria, then give antibiotics.
What To Do About Severe Lower Back Pain
If you have severe back pain, connect with a doctor as soon as possible.
You may discuss diagnostic tests if a healthcare professional hasnt already identified the cause of your back pain. After you receive a diagnosis from the doctor, youll discuss treatment options.
If your lower back pain is accompanied by a loss of bowel or bladder control, or progressive neurological loss, seek immediate medical attention. You might need emergency surgery.
There are many ways to prevent lower back pain. Taking these measures may help prevent pain altogether or lessen the severity of your symptoms if you manage to get injured.
Prevention may involve:
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If Your Back Pain Is Causing Depression
There is a close correlation between depression and chronic pain. And why wouldnt there be? Living with such pain day in and day out, leaving you unable to connect with the ones you love, complete work, or enjoy recreational activities that once brought you joy would make miserable. It can feel as though it consumes your life. Finding out what you can do to relieve the pain, and support your mental health, to get back to your life is your best bet for success.
There are many of us who try to play the tough card and think Oh, it will clear up on its own. But remember it doesnt hurt to know the cause of any pain, back or otherwise, especially if its accompanied by other symptoms, was a result from major trauma, or lasts longer than a couple weeks.
Not only will you know whats causing your pain, but youll be able to take a proactive and positive approach to relieving yourself of that pain and regaining your life. As the cliché goes, Its better to be safe than sorry.
Now you know that there are many factors that go into determining what the issue is and if you need professional help. First, take the time to really evaluate your body. Notice if there is anything more than back pain going on. Then ask! When you come to see us, ask if the symptoms are or could be related.
To your pain free life,
Team Satori
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If You Have These Symptoms You May Require Emergency Care
Lower back pain, which can occur anywhere from your rib cage to your buttocks, is often the result of lifting, reaching, twisting and stretching. Upper and middle back pain, in most cases, does get better with time and rest. If your back pain is unrelenting and not relieved by rest, you should immediately visit the closest emergency department. If the pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should also seek emergency care:
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Common Manbetx S For Low Back Pain
combining information from the patients medical history, physical exam, and possible diagnostic tests, the healthcare provider will recommend a course of back care that fits the patients needs.
non-surgical manbetx s for low back pain will be recommended first. common non-surgical manbetx s include:
- physical therapy,which typically works to strengthen muscles and mobilize joints in order to better support the spine and minimize painful movements.
Which Lifestyle Factors Contribute To Lower Back Pain
There are three major lifestyle factors that may affect your chances of developing lower back pain:
- Multiple studies have established a link between smoking and lower back pain. Smoking raises inflammation inside the body and hinders the body from healing itself.
- Obesity is also associated with several types of chronic pain, including lower back pain. In people with high body mass index , the stress on the spine increases, contributing to even more wear and tear.
- Your level of physical activity can also play a role in your lower back health. While a sedentary lifestyle could increase your risk of developing lower back pain, so can excessive or strenuous physical activity. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about your ideal level of physical activity.
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Why Seek Help For Your Lower Back Pain
Whether your lower back pain is acute or chronic, your primary goal is to restore pain-free movement and thats our goal, as well.
Through our chiropractic treatment, we correct any misalignments along your spine to encourage a better flow of valuable resources that can speed up your recovery. Your body is incredibly self–sufficient and contains the resources it needs to rebuild and repair your soft and hard tissues on a cellular level. But if these resources are blocked along the primary highway in your body your spine the healing process can be considerably slowed down.
Ultimately, the treatments you receive at our practice are designed to help relieve the pain and restore mobility, which is why we recommend that you come see us at the first signs of lower back pain. This immediate attention can help save you from much larger problems down the road.
If your lower back is in pain, please contact our office in Indianapolis, Indiana, to get on the road to relief.
When Should I See My Doctor
If you have back pain and have lost feeling or movement in your limbs or are having problems controlling your bowels or bladder, call triple 000 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
You should see your doctor or other health care professional for further advice if:
- your pain bothers you
- your back pain doesnt improve after a few weeks or worsens
- you have symptoms such as weight loss, tingling or numbness in the legs, or problems with bladder and/or bowel control
- you have osteoporosis
You should see your doctor as soon as possible, if you have a history of cancer, are prone to infection, or use intravenous drugs.
For most people, back pain will resolve in a few weeks with appropriate self-care. After 2 months, 9 out of 10 people will recover from back pain.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Low Back Pain
Low back pain is classified as acute and chronic. Acute low back pain lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute low back pain will resolve on its own. Chronic low back pain lasts for more than 3 months and often gets worse. The cause of chronic low back pain can be hard to find. These are the most common symptoms of low back pain. Symptoms may include discomfort or pain in the lower back that is:
- Protruding or herniated disk
What Is A Red Flag For Back Pain
If back pain is a medical emergency, youll likely feel intense, sudden symptoms. You usually also experience one or more red-flag symptoms along with low back pain, such as:
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of consciousness
- Pain that extends from the lower back around to your abdomen
- Sudden numbness in your pelvic region or in one or both legs
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency care or call 911 immediately. These symptoms can indicate a problem with your blood vessels, spine or nerves that could cause lasting damage if you dont receive treatment right away.
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