Lower Back Pain: Definitions & Options
There are 5 vertebrae in the lower back. These are the 5 lumbar bones. They are cushioned by spinal discs that are covered with cartilage and made of a gel-like substance.
The spinal cord and nerves are contained within the spinal canal, which runs the full length of the spinal column. The lower back takes a lot of stress because it carries the weight of most of the torso. This causes the spine, nerves and muscles to be subject to pain.
Doctors see patients for lower back pain quite frequently - almost as often as for the flu! Back pain can be caused by a lot of things, and in fact, it can have multiple causes in one patient. Injury and trauma are the most common causes of back pain. Here are a few examples:
Strain: Injury to a muscle.
Sprains are caused by ligament injury.
Sciatica is caused by a pinched nerve.
Sacroiliitis is caused by inflammation of the hip joint.
Disc degeneration caused by disease.
Pressure can cause a herniated disc.
Strains and sprains may happen for a variety of reasons and may be caused by a combination of events. Poor posture, repeated improper lifting, and obesity damage the lower back a little bit at a time over time.
Click here for more on reconstruction of torn ACL.
After a strain or sprain, it is important to slowly and carefully resume normal activities after a couple of days. Heat and/or cold packs should be applied to the injury. Physical maneuvering of the bones - known as tractions and reduction - may be helpful. Other treatments include electrical stimulation, massage therapy, and ultrasound. Additionally, injections of corticosteroids or local anesthetics may provide temporary relief of pain.
Anytime you have back pain, one of the best ways to alleviate it is through conditioning and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. This can be done by using specific exercises recommended by your health care professional and by adding aerobic conditioning to your daily activities.
Back surgery knows as spinal fusion is a last resort when all non-surgical options have been tried. This surgery works by limiting the movement in the most painful part of the back.
Back surgery is deemed successful if the pain is reduced. However, it may take over a year to find this out, as recovery can be slow. Complete relief of pain is quite unusual. It is important to discuss all of the alternatives for treatment with your doctor. It may be that surgery is not the right choice for you.
Click here for more on knee surgery and knee surgeons. - 17274
The spinal cord and nerves are contained within the spinal canal, which runs the full length of the spinal column. The lower back takes a lot of stress because it carries the weight of most of the torso. This causes the spine, nerves and muscles to be subject to pain.
Doctors see patients for lower back pain quite frequently - almost as often as for the flu! Back pain can be caused by a lot of things, and in fact, it can have multiple causes in one patient. Injury and trauma are the most common causes of back pain. Here are a few examples:
Strain: Injury to a muscle.
Sprains are caused by ligament injury.
Sciatica is caused by a pinched nerve.
Sacroiliitis is caused by inflammation of the hip joint.
Disc degeneration caused by disease.
Pressure can cause a herniated disc.
Strains and sprains may happen for a variety of reasons and may be caused by a combination of events. Poor posture, repeated improper lifting, and obesity damage the lower back a little bit at a time over time.
Click here for more on reconstruction of torn ACL.
After a strain or sprain, it is important to slowly and carefully resume normal activities after a couple of days. Heat and/or cold packs should be applied to the injury. Physical maneuvering of the bones - known as tractions and reduction - may be helpful. Other treatments include electrical stimulation, massage therapy, and ultrasound. Additionally, injections of corticosteroids or local anesthetics may provide temporary relief of pain.
Anytime you have back pain, one of the best ways to alleviate it is through conditioning and strengthening the muscles of the lower back. This can be done by using specific exercises recommended by your health care professional and by adding aerobic conditioning to your daily activities.
Back surgery knows as spinal fusion is a last resort when all non-surgical options have been tried. This surgery works by limiting the movement in the most painful part of the back.
Back surgery is deemed successful if the pain is reduced. However, it may take over a year to find this out, as recovery can be slow. Complete relief of pain is quite unusual. It is important to discuss all of the alternatives for treatment with your doctor. It may be that surgery is not the right choice for you.
Click here for more on knee surgery and knee surgeons. - 17274
About the Author:
Dr. Tarlow is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with more than 20 years experience focusing on knee surgery. After 19 years of practice, he opened his own clinic, Advanced Knee Care, in Phoenix, Arizona. Click here to learn more about Dr. Tarlow, knee surgery and ACL Reconstruction in Phoenix and Mesa.
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