Lower back pain is not uncommon as this part of your body is vulnerable to complications as it supports your upper body and is involved in a lot of bending and twisting. Mild back pain can go away with rest and may not be worrisome. However, if your painful condition affects your ability to perform your daily activities and does not go away quickly, you ought to seek expert help. Adam Camp, MD, an anesthesiologist and pain management physician in Lonia, MI, at Advanced Pain Solutions can diagnose your condition and help you manage it through effective treatments. Learn more about the complications and how to manage it herein.

Why You Experience Back Pain

Understanding the cause of your condition is critical in knowing the right treatment option for you. As mentioned earlier, your lower back carries your upper body and is involved in so many movements increasing the risks for complications. Injuries, stress, and strains on your lower back are among the leading causes of the painful condition. The pain may also be contributed by an underlying medical complication involving your spine. In such a case, your provider will evaluate your symptoms to get to the root of your issue.

Disorders within your abdomen that mainly contribute to lower back pain include kidney disease, appendicitis, aneurysms, kidney infection, pelvic infections, bladder infections, and ovarian disorders.

Other conditions causing lower back pain include noninfectious inflammation of the spine, bones, musculoskeletal pain syndromes, and nerve root syndromes.

How to Differentiate Low Back Pain

The primary sign of lower back pain is a pain in your lumbosacral area. This pain may radiate down your leg’s front, back, or side, or it can be confined to the lower back. It can worsen at night, with activity or prolonged sitting like after a long car trip. If the pain radiates to your legs, you may experience weakness or numbness in the part of the leg receiving nerve supply from a compressed nerve.

When to Seek Medical Care

Please visit your doctor any time you are in pain. However, several red flags are associated with lower back pain and should prompt you to see your provider as soon as possible. They include:

•       Recent mild trauma, mainly if you are over 50
•       Recent significant trauma irrespective of your age
•       History of hip fracture or osteoporosis
•       History of recent infection
•       Unexplained weight loss
•       Low back pain that worsens at night

Lower Back Pain Diagnosis

Your provider may carry out several tests and exams to evaluate the cause of your condition for effective management. Your provider will verify your medical history and ask you several questions to help them determine the source of your pain.

Your provider may also complete a physical exam to watch for signs of nerve damage. An abdominal examination may also be necessary depending on what your provider suspects are wrong with you.

Your provider may also carry out some blood tests, nerve tests, and imagery tests.

Lower Back Pain Treatment

Once your provider understands the cause of your condition, it will be easy to recommend the most effective treatment to help improve your symptoms. Medications and physical therapy will be recommended to reduce inflammation, relax your muscles, strengthen your back, and promote circulation relieving pain. However, the following treatments may be recommended when your pain persists.

•       Facet medial branch block
•       Epidural steroid injections
•       Facet joint injections
•       Spinal cord stimulation
•       Sacroiliac joint steroid injections
•       Facet radiofrequency ablation
•       Posterior SI fusion

If your lower back hurts, Advanced Pain Solutions got your back. Reach out to the low back pain specialists today and learn how the treatment options can help you. Your provider will diagnose your condition to help you know the right treatment option for you.

Paul Petersen