Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common problem that can affect you at any age. Almost everyone has it at some time in their life. It can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that interrupts your life and activities. It can start gradually or all at once.

If your pain isn’t going away or it’s getting worse, it's important to get medical advice.

Causes of low back pain 

Low back pain can happen for many reasons, including:

• Muscle and ligament strains: Lifting heavy objects, moving suddenly or having poor posture can strain the muscles and ligaments in your back and cause stiffness and pain.
• A torn or herniated disk: If a spinal disk bulges or ruptures, it can press on a nerve root and cause nerve pain. This type of back pain may radiate down your leg.
• Car accidents: The impact of a crash can cause spinal fractures or damage your spinal cord, leading to long-term pain or discomfort.
• Everyday activities: Repetitive motions can strain your back, especially if you don’t take breaks. 
• Sitting or standing: Spending long stretches of time in the same position without moving much can make your back stiff or uncomfortable. 
• Overactivity: Doing something your body isn’t used to, like playing a new sport or spending a lot of time on yardwork, can make your back sore or stiff.
• Aging: As you age, your spinal disks wear down and you lose muscle mass in your back. This can lead to changes in your posture. You could develop conditions like degenerative spondylolisthesis, where your vertebrae (the bones in your back) slide forward on top of each other, or spinal stenosis, where pressure builds on the spinal cord and nerves.
• Extra body weight: Carrying extra weight adds stress to your spine and increases your risk of pain and trouble with mobility. Weight loss can lower the pressure on your lower back.

When to see a health care provider for low back pain

Back pain could feel like aching or cramping, or it could be sharp or stabbing, depending on what’s causing it. It’s often worse when you’re bending, sitting, standing or walking and feels better when you’re lying down. It may come and go and may be worse at certain times of the day and better during other times.

Mild back pain might improve in a few weeks with rest and self-care. But some symptoms require medical attention. 

You should see a health care provider if:

• Back pain is bad enough that it’s hard for you to do everyday activities.
• Pain lasts longer than a few weeks.
• You have numbness, tingling or weakness in your legs. This could mean a pinched nerve is contributing to your back pain.

Getting help early can prevent the pain from getting worse and help you recover more quickly.

Get care right away if you have:

• Trouble standing or walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel control, which could be a sign of a serious spinal cord issue
• Pain that started after an accident, fall or injury
• Fever or chills
• Weight loss without trying to lose weight

Learn more about your back pain by taking our free back and neck pain assessment. 

Diagnosing back pain

When you see your health care provider for back pain, they will ask you about your symptoms and when the symptoms started. They may push on your back and ask you to move it in different directions to see what causes your pain. They may also ask you to move your arms or legs to assess your spinal nerves.

Your provider will be able to recommend treatment after reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam. If needed, they may order imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans.

If your back pain might be caused by osteoporosis, your provider may order a bone density test or refer you to a specialist. Osteoporosis is a condition where your bones become less dense which places you at increased risk for fractures.

Treatment for low back pain 

The right treatment for low back pain depends on what’s causing it and how severe your symptoms are.

Non-surgical treatments

There are a few options that can help ease your back pain:

• Physical therapy: A specialist can use massage, heat, ice, dry needling, ultrasound or electrical stimulation to treat your back pain. They can also guide you through exercises that may help strengthen your back muscles, improve your flexibility and reduce your pain.
• Pain relievers: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with discomfort. Your health care provider may prescribe stronger medications like steroids or muscle relaxers depending on your symptoms.
• Braces: Braces that wrap around your stomach and back can give you support and help with back pain. However, braces can lead to core and muscle weakness and muscle loss. 
• Chiropractic care: Some people find that spinal manipulation helps with back pain.
• Lifestyle modifications: Maintain a healthy weight to reduce strain on your back, and practice good posture when you’re sitting, standing or lifting heavy objects.

More advanced treatments 

If those treatments don’t provide enough relief, your health care provider may recommend other options, like corticosteroid injections. These injections may help reduce inflammation and pain around the spinal nerves.

Surgery is usually used only if other treatments have not worked for six to 12 months.

Surgical options

You may want to consider surgery for back pain if you have:

• Major nerve pain that doesn’t improve with other treatments
• Structural issues (like scoliosis), spinal instability or spinal cord compression
• A herniated disk that’s causing ongoing pain and weakness

These surgical procedures may stabilize your spine and relieve pressure on your nerves.

• Spinal fusion: Spine vertebrae are fused to provide stability to the spine or correct a spinal deformity. 
• Diskectomy: The herniated part of a disk is removed to relieve tension on the nerve root.
• Laminectomy: Ligaments and bone spurs are removed to take away pressure from your spinal nerves.
• Kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty: Cement is injected into a broken vertebrae to help with pain. This treatment is used for fractures from osteoporosis.
• Spinal cord stimulator: An implanted device that delivers electrical impulses to the spinal cord that may help relieve back pain.
• Disk replacement: In some cases, a painful disk might be removed and replaced with an artificial disk. With this procedure, you have more movement in your back compared to spinal fusion.

However, not all types of lower back pain can be treated with surgery. Consult with your spine surgeon regarding all your treatment options. 

Preventing low back pain

You can’t always prevent low back pain, but it can help to:

• Exercise regularly: Include cardiovascular exercise that raises your heart rate and strengthening exercises for your core and back.
• Lift properly: Keep your back straight and bend at the knees. Don’t lean forward.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Extra weight places increased strain your back.
• Don’t smoke: Smoke and nicotine can make your back pain worse.
• Use proper posture: If you need guidance, see a health care provider.

Finding the right care for your low back pain 

At Banner Health, we know how frustrating it can be to deal with low back pain, and how it can impact your life and well-being. We offer expert care for back pain that starts with an evaluation by a primary care provider. 

From there, our team of pain management health care providers, spine surgeons and physical therapists will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to help you feel better. We offer a full range of treatments, from pain relievers and physical therapy, to corticosteroid injections, to advanced surgical options. 

Don’t let low back pain limit your life. Schedule an appointment today and take the first step toward relief.