Having a lower back can adversely affect your daily activities, preventing you from doing the things you usually enjoy and the things that you need to do. By visiting a back doctor, you can have an examination to find where the pain is stemming from. At Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, we can give you a diagnosis and help you manage your pain. Here are some causes and treatments for lower back pain:
Herniated Discs
This is a frequently occurring back injury that causes numbness, tingling, and pain due to the irritation of the nerves. It is caused by a disc rupturing through the membrane and protruding toward your spine. Discomfort from this injury may flare up when lifting heavy objects, having poor posture while sitting, or awkward back movements like twisting. A back doctor will examine your spine, and if your case is severe, order an MRI to determine the severity of the condition.
Treatments for herniated discs may include physical therapy involving various stretches or spinal injections to help manage the pain. A doctor could recommend surgery for your injury if non-surgical methods aren’t effective. Spinal fusions are one type of procedure that helps your pain long-term.
Spinal Fractures
This type of back injury causes mild to severe discomfort if agitated. Spinal stress fractures stem from repeated movements, especially extending backwards, like in some sports. Compression fractures can occur from activities like consistently lifting heavy objects, which may lead to minor fractures on your spine. More significant fractures can also happen from forceful trauma to the back. Having spinal fractures can affect the strength and stability of your spine, necessitating a visit to a lower back doctor. X-rays or an MRI can be done to determine the extent of the damage.
Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics can help treat pain and discomfort by offering surgical and non-surgical options. Doctors may try things such as bracers, stem-cell injections, and physical therapy. If these methods don’t improve discomfort, they may recommend spinal surgery to fix the structure of your spine.
Sciatica
Sciatica manifests as an acute pain that runs down the lower back and into the legs. It is caused by compression on the sciatic nerve and is exacerbated by pressure or previous back injury. Pain often intensifies when doing certain activities, like sports or standing for long periods. A doctor can help treat sciatica by giving spinal injections, muscle relaxants, or hot and cold therapy to help the nerves and inflammation. They may also recommend surgical options if the pain becomes severe and dramatically impacts your ability to complete daily tasks or even sleep.
Muscle Strain
Lower back muscles may overly strain due to excessive intense physical activities or sudden, awkward movements that affect the muscles. Muscle strains might be mild, requiring rest and over-the-counter painkillers, or more severe, requiring bracers or surgical intervention. For most cases, a pain doctor will recommend pain management strategies, stretching therapies, and applying heat and ice.
Visit a Back Doctor Today
If your back pain is preventing you from doing and enjoying daily activities, then you should seek medical intervention. A Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics professional can give you a physical examination, take a medical history, and use technology to understand the root cause of your pain. They will work with you to come up with a treatment plan to help relieve your spinal stress. Reach out today to learn more about addressing your discomfort.