I Haven't Had A Fall, So Why Do I Have Lower Back Pain?

“I HAVEN’T HAD A FALL, SO WHY DO I HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN?”
You can certainly feel it. However, its cause is a mystery to you. When it comes to lower back pain, the possible origins can be as diverse as the symptoms. You might be experiencing a sharp stabbing pain, dull ache, numbness in the extremities, shooting pain down the extremities, loss of bowel or bladder control, muscle spasms or other unwelcome distress.

“CAN YOU FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE?”
You haven’t had a sudden trauma, like an accident, or a sprain from heavy lifting. You aren’t eight months pregnant. Obesity is not an issue. And you’re not carrying the constant burden of an overloaded backpack, messenger bag or handbag.

So let’s figure this out.

1) When did you first notice the pain?
2) How would you describe the pain?
3) What activities have you done lately?
4) What have you done for your back pain?
5) Has anything been effective?

“AFTER WE RULE OUT THE OBVIOUS, WHAT’S NEXT?”
We’ll pursue the likely mechanical causes, and eliminate the possibility of serious underlying conditions, such as infections, tumors, abdominal aortic aneurysms, kidney stones, osteoporosis or fibromyalgia. A complete medical history and physical exam — along with a thorough back exam and neurologic tests — can usually identify any serious conditions that may be causing the pain.

If it appears your back pain is not due to a serious underlying issue, your doctor at Datta Endoscopic® Back Surgery and Pain Center has an arsenal of tests available to determine the cause.

X-ray is often the first go-to imaging technique used to look for broken bones or fractured, misaligned or otherwise injured vertebra.

Bone scans utilizes a small amount of radioactive material injected into the bloodstream to detect and monitor infection, fracture, or disorders in the bone. Scanner-generated images can identify specific areas of irregular bone metabolism or abnormal blood flow, as well as to measure levels of joint disease.

CT Scan (Computerized Tomography Scan) shows your doctor the spinal structures that cannot be seen on conventional x-rays, such as disc rupture, spinal stenosis, or tumors. The CT scan creates a 3D image from a series of two-dimensional pictures.

Discography involves the injection of a contrast dye into the spinal disc believed to be the cause of your low back pain. If that disc is the cause, the fluid’s pressure in the disc will reproduce your symptoms and lead us to a diagnosis.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses a magnetic force instead of radiation to create a computer-generated image. Unlike x-ray, MRI scans also produce images of soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels. MRI is a noninvasive way to identify a condition requiring prompt surgical treatment.

Myelograms are used to enhance the diagnostic imaging of x-rays and CT scans. During a myelogram, a contrast dye is injected into the spinal canal, allowing spinal cord and nerve compression caused by herniated discs or fractures to be seen on x-rays or CT scans.

Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to obtain images inside the body. Ultrasound imaging — also called sonography — can show tears in ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue masses in the back.

“JUST KNOWING THE CAUSE IS A RELIEF. WHAT’S NEXT?”
After we’ve determined the cause, your doctor will outline treatment options available to you. Datta Endoscopic specializes in a number of well-practiced pain solutions, including physical therapy, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, minimally invasive surgery and radio frequency nerve ablation.

Contact the Datta Endoscopic office closest to you to begin your path to lower back pain relief.

Dr. Sukdeb Datta of Datta Endoscopic is a highly regarded and widely published specialist. Dr. Datta’s clinical interests have been wide ranging and focused on finding innovative solutions to complex clinical problems associated with chronic pain and spine issues. He believes in constantly evolving and intellectually advancing the field by incorporating the best clinical research and practice using the appropriate evidence-based approach and at the same time incorporating the best in translational pain research.

This blog should not take the place of in-person medical treatment. Consult Datta Endoscopic or your physician for a personalized medical diagnosis and treatment plan.