Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of problems. Typical sources of low back pain include:
- Large nerve root irritation
- Muscle Strain or Sprain
- Damage to the bones, ligaments or joints.
- Disc degenerating or herniation.
- Often times underlying structural damage may result in muscle spasms, which can cause severe pain and disability.
- While lower back pain is extremely common, the symptoms and severity of lower back pain vary greatly. A simple lower back muscle strainmight be excruciating enough to necessitate an emergency room visit, while a degenerating disc might cause only mild, intermittent discomfort.
- Identifying the symptoms and getting a diagnosis that pinpoints the underlying cause of the pain is the first step in obtaining effective pain relief.
Typical treatments include conservative therapies such as rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers. In some instances minimally invasive injections can be helpful. Such as facet blocks, epidural steroid injections, and nerve blocks. Talk with your physician regarding the role of these injections in your treatment plan.