Lower Back Pain Relief

The lower back is the most common area of the back for people to experience pain and other back problems. The lumbar spine carries much more weight than the neck or upper back, while still having a relatively large range of motion. All this means that injury and wear and tear are relatively common.

Lower back pain reduce your mobility, activity level, and quality of life. It can also have an effect on overall physical and emotional health; chronic pain is associated with insomnia, decreased immune response, and mood disorders.

Causes

Lower back pain can be caused by a variety of problems, including:

• Damage to the muscles, which heals quickly
  
• Herniated discs
  
• Bulging discs
  
• Arthritis
  
• Bone spurs
  
• Injury
  
• Tumors (rare)
  

Certain groups are at an elevated risk of developing this condition, including people with physical jobs, people who are obese, and pregnant women. Age is also a compounding factor.

Treatment

Fortunately, lower back pain is as treatable as it is common. A variety of approaches can prevent and reduce pain:

• Limited rest
  
• Weight loss
  
• Physical therapy, which can give you the tools to keep doing exercises that prevent and treat symptoms
  
• Chiropractic treatment
  
• Anti-inflammatory medication
  
• Epidural steroid injections
  
• Surgery, either open back or laser
  

The appropriate approach for effective back pain relief depends on the severity of symptoms, the underlying cause, and how you respond to more conservative treatments. The patient's prior health is also a factor in this decision. Since surgery is expensive, has a long recovery time, and has relatively high risks, it is usually a last resort - but for those who need it, surgical treatment can be life-saving.

Only your doctor can tell you what treatment is best to get you lower back pain relief. To schedule an appointment with a top New York City spine expert today, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (212) 430-0312.