Low back pain is a prevalent issue that many people experience at some point in their lives. While the root cause of low back pain can be difficult to determine, there are a variety of tests and treatments available to help manage the pain. This blog post will explore the causes, tests, and treatments for low back pain. Stay tuned for tips on how to reduce or prevent low back pain altogether! our next blog post!
Low back pain is one of the most common types, but it can also be caused by certain diseases. For example:
- arthritis
- kidney infections
- infections of the spine
- cancer of the spinal cord
- a ruptured or herniated disc
- sciatica
What are the causes of low back pain?
Our nerves affect the different parts of our body by passing through openings in the bones called spinal canals. A ruptured or herniated disc occurs when part of the “shock-absorbing” discs that sit between two vertebrae move into the spinal canal and press on a nerve. This causes swelling, which results in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the part of the body served by that nerve.
Spinal stenosis:
Spinal stenosis is most common in people over age 50, and it occurs when the space around the spinal cord narrows. The narrowing places pressure on the nerves and can cause pain, numbness, or weakness.
Lumbar herniated disc:
A lumbar herniated disc occurs when the cushioning material between the vertebrae called a disc leak into a nearby part of the spine. This causes pressure to build that can irritate or injure a nerve root, resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in an area served by those nerves.
Disc injury:
A disc injury can also cause localized pain in the low back, but it usually does not affect both sides. You should seek immediate medical attention if you feel tingling, weakness, or numbness in the legs, feet, or buttocks. These symptoms may indicate a life-threatening spinal cord injury.
Strains:
Strains are another common cause of low back pain. Strains occur when muscles, ligaments, or tendons are overstretched or torn.
Herniated vertebral disc:
A herniated vertebral disc occurs when the cushioning material between the bones of your spine-called a disc-pushes through a crack in one of the bones. This can cause pressure on a nerve resulting in pain or numbness, and it could also press on an artery, causing weakness or loss of muscle function in an area served by those nerves.
How is low back pain diagnosed?
A health care provider can diagnose low back pain in many ways. Here are some common tests:
X-ray : An x-ray is an image of bones and other structures inside the body created by sending beams through the tissues to a special plate. X-rays cannot show muscles, ligaments, or tendons, but they can help a health care provider rule out a fracture, tumor, or infection.
MRI: An MRI, which uses a magnet and radio waves to create images of organs and structures inside the body, can show both hard and soft tissues in the spine. It can also help rule out a spinal tumor or infection.
CT scan: A CT scan is much like an x-ray, but it creates images using a computer and special equipment. A CT scan can show the bony structures in the spine and rule out problems like tumors.
Electrodiagnostic testing: Electrodiagnostic testing is used to test how well nerves are working in your lower body by measuring the speed at which they send signals back and forth to your brain.
How is low back pain treated?
Treatment for low back pain depends on:
The cause of the pain, and whether it’s likely to get better without treatment how long you’ve had the pain what keeps bringing on the pain (a flare-up) how bad it is
The first step in treating low back pain is to stop doing whatever brought on the pain. Don’t sit or stand too long, don’t lift anything heavy, and don’t bend over.
Getting good care for your low back pain is important no matter how bad it is or how much it hurts. You can feel better with treatment but you might not get total relief.
Treatment for low back pain may include : over-the-counter or prescription medications exercises, including stretching and strengthening exercises spinal manipulation combined with physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and biofeedback. Sometimes injections of steroids into the lower back can relieve nerve compression that causes pain.
If you do not get better with treatment for low back pain, your health care provider may do tests to see what is causing the pain. Surgery rarely is needed for low back pain.
If your caregiver tells you to stay in bed, follow the instructions carefully and use a reclining chair or bedside commode as ordered.
Be sure to follow instructions for what types of activities you can do and when; some activity is important, even if it hurts a little. Ask for help with housework, cooking, and shopping.
Don’t hesitate to ask your health care provider when you can return to work and what type of work you can do.
If the pain is not better in a few weeks, ask your health care provider if he or she needs to see you again.
Conclusion:
A combination of treatments is often best for low back pain. Physical therapy exercise and medication may work well together to reduce your symptoms and improve your ability to do your daily activities.
Lower Back Pain Physiotherapy Exercises 