Of all the medical conditions individuals experience, low back pain is one of the most common. But there are many things that cause low back pain. To many peoples’ surprise, low back pain isn’t always caused by trying to lift something too heavy or a slip and fall. Therefore, let’s take a look at some of the causitive factors of low back pain.
1. Lumbar Muscle Strain
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Nonsurgical treatment relieves low back pain: cognitive therapy, exercise.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Family Practice News
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This digital document is an article from Family Practice News, published by International Medical News Group on September 1, 2003. The length of the article is 560 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Nonsurgical treatment relieves low back pain: cognitive therapy, exercise.(Clinical Rounds)
Author: Diana Mahoney
Publication: Family Practice News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2003
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 33 Issue: 17 Page: 36(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale…
Nonsurgical treatment relieves low back pain: cognitive therapy, exercise.(Clinical Rounds): An article from: Family Practice News
One of the most common causes of lower back pain is a straining of the lumbar muscles. Most people don’t even remember what they did to cause the strain. Not picking up objects properly, sitting stationary for an extensive period of time, or even recreational sports can all put a strain on the muscles of your lower back.
2. Pinched Nerve
Between each of your vertebrae, nerves branch off of your spinal cord and exit into your body. If one or more of your vertebra gets twisted and out of place (i.e. subluxated), this could “pinch” one of your spinal nerves. Pain could then result at the location of the nerve impingement or the pain could follow the path of the nerve and radiate out into your body.
3. Arthritis Of The Lumbar Spine
Although arthritis is most commonly associated with joints of the finger, knees and shoulders, the spine has numerous articulating joints that are also vulnerable to arthritis. Arthritis can be the result of a prior trauma or injury, or it might be simply a consequence of the natural process of getting older.
4. Bulging Or Ruptured Disc
Separating each of your vertebrae are discs. In the center of each disc is a gel-like material that acts kind of like a shock absorber. Due to injury or trauma to the spine, discs can become damaged. The gel-like substance can create a herniation of the disc which resembles a bulge on a damaged inner tube of a tire. The bulging disc could then impinge upon the adjacent spinal nerve. In severe conditions, a bulging disc could rupture.
Diagnosing Low Back Pain
The good news is that most lower back pain resolves itself on it’s own. But if your back pain persists or gets worse after several days, it is suggested that you see a physician.
A routine medical examination with basic orthopedic tests can help identify the actual problem. X-rays are also part of the standard diagnosis protocol. Depending on the findings of the initial exam and tests, an MRI might be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment Options
Depending on the intensity of the pain, medication, muscle relaxers or a local injection initially might be needed to make the pain tolerable. However, this pain relief is often only temporary and the pain will eventually recur unless the underlying cause of the problem is treated.
A conservative treatment approach like physical therapy and/or chiropractic adjustments will often correct most low back pain problems. In severe instances where the body does not respond and the pain persists, surgery might be necessary to repair the affected area.
When You Should Visit A Doctor
As stated above, low back pain frequently resolves itself without any medical treatment. But if your back pain persists for more than a couple of days or keeps you up at night, it is strongly recommended that you see a physician for a comprehensive evaluation to establish the problem, then get suitable treatment to correct the problem.
About the author: Dr. Fabrizio Di Noto is a primary care doctor that practices in Michigan. If you are suffering from low back pain and need pain relief for low back pain please call his office to schedule an appointment or visit his website at http://www.drfabriziodinoto.com.
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