Everyone is bound to experience lower back pain occasionally, which should resolve after some time. Lower back pain may result from injuries or degenerative diseases, and you should take it seriously if it proves persistent. When you visit McNulty Spine, you get a wide range of treatments to relieve you from lower back pain.
How can lower back pain reduce the quality of your life?
Lower back pain refers to a shooting, aching, or otherwise painful sensation in your lower back, resulting from degenerative diseases or acute injuries. Lower back pain that occurs due to sports injuries is known as acute back pain; if the pain is persistent and does not go away after a long time, it is called chronic back pain. Some of the reasons for lower back pain include:
- Spinal stenosis
- Workplace injury
- Herniated discs
- Osteoporosis fracture
- Kyphosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Osteoarthritis
- Personal injury
- Scoliosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lordosis
- Spondylosis
Shooting or stabbing pain in your lower back may be due to a compressed sciatic nerve. This compression may also result in weakness in your legs and glutes. Sciatica is a general term for the symptoms resulting from a compressed sciatic nerve or a herniated disc. Lower back pain usually resolves on its own, but if the symptoms get worse, you may need to immediately consult a neuropathic pain specialist.
What issues lead to lower back pain?
Dr. McNulty first conducts a thorough medical examination on your back and several diagnostic tests to determine the root cause of your shooting pain. He may recommend the following tests:
- Spinal injections
- Myelography
- MRI
- Bone scan
- Discography
- X-rays
- CT scan
To make an accurate diagnosis, Dr. McNulty may assess your ability to stand or sit straight. He may also request you to describe your symptoms and rate your pain on a zero to ten scale. The team may also examine you for any abnormalities that may have triggered the pain. After these assessments, Dr. McNulty and his team can discuss the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment for you.
What treatments help remedy lower back pain?
The type of treatment suitable for you depends on your symptoms’ intensity and the root cause of the pain. There is a wide range of treatment options for lower back pain ranging from non-invasive to invasive procedures. Dr. McNulty creates a suitable and effective treatment plan to treat your pain’s root cause and prevent it from recurring, including recommending the best posture corrector for your specific needs. Some of the treatment options offered include:
- Nerve blocks
- Chiropractic treatment
- Disc replacement
- Physical therapy
- Fusion surgery
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Reconstruction surgery
- Spinal injections
If your condition is not serious, Dr. McNulty may recommend home remedies to relieve the pain. He may also recommend regular exercise to loosen your muscles and eliminate your discomfort.
Lower back pain should not limit your mobility or make you uncomfortable when there are simple and effective treatments that can help you return to your daily activities. If you experience any of the lower back pain symptoms, call the office or book your appointment online today.