Low back pain can result from many different injuries, conditions, or diseases — most often, an injury to muscles or tendons in the back. Pain can range from mild to severe. In some cases, pain can make it difficult or impossible to walk, sleep, work or do everyday activities. Around four out of five people have lower back pain at some point in their lives. It’s one of the most common reasons people visit healthcare providers.
Symptoms of back pain:
Back pain often develops without a cause that shows up in a test or imaging study. Conditions commonly linked to back pain include:
1. Muscle or ligament strain- Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. Constant strain on the back can cause painful muscle spasms.
2. Bulging disks- Disks act as cushions between the bones in the spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. Disk disease is often found on spine X-rays, CT scans or MRIs.
3. Arthritis- Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
4. Osteoporosis- The spine’s vertebrae can develop painful breaks if the bones become porous and brittle.
5. Ankylosing spondylitis- This inflammatory disease can cause some of the bones in the spine to fuse. This makes the spine less flexible.
A physical exam by an IBAP back pain doctor is often the first step to determining the source of pain. Following our back pain doctor’s assessment, imaging tests, including X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, may be necessary to help doctors pinpoint the cause of the back pain and determine the best back pain treatment plan.
Advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for back pain have improved outcomes and can help you return to the activities you enjoy. The treatment options from the Indo British advanced Pain clinic that can help reduce back pain include:
A common cause of back pain is mechanical injury or issue, such as a muscle sprains or joint irritation. However, in many cases, there is no clear cause.
There are many things that people can do to lower their risk of developing low back pain, including using proper lifting techniques, not smoking, and exercising regularly.
Low back pain is a common problem and can be caused by distinct factors, so Dr Vijay Bhaskar doesn’t believe there is a clear hereditary component to low back pain.
“We don’t typically recommend bed rest for lumbar spine problems anymore,” says Dr Vijay. Evidence has shown over time that bed rest actually makes the problem worse.
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