Low Back Pain

The primary symptom of back pain is, of course, back in your lower back. However, patients with low back pain may experience other symptoms related to the issue causing the pain.

Low back pain symptoms can be caused by various issues affecting the bones, muscles, nerves, or connective tissues in the lower back region. Healthcare providers may perform physical exams and order imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs to identify the specific cause of these symptoms. Understanding the nature and severity of these symptoms is crucial for healthcare professionals to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient. Promptly addressing the root cause of low back pain symptoms can help reduce discomfort and enhance the quality of life for patients.

If you experience persistent or worsening pain, schedule an appointment for treatment.

Low back pain occurs for a variety of reasons. Causes range from injuries to infections. To understand the cause of back pain, patients need an accurate diagnosis.

It is important to maintain a healthy weight to prevent putting too much stress on the lower back, which can lead to pain. Radicular pain, which occurs when spinal nerve roots are compressed or inflamed, is another common cause of low back pain.

Understanding the root cause of your lower back pain is essential for effective treatment and prevention. Seeking a proper diagnosis from healthcare professionals can help in creating personalized plans to address the specific issues contributing to your discomfort in the lumbar region.

While any patient can develop lower back pain, some patients with certain risk factors have a greater chance of experiencing the condition.

Several factors can contribute to experiencing discomfort in the lower back area. These include having poor posture, leading a sedentary lifestyle, being exposed to occupational hazards, and having a genetic predisposition. Carrying excess weight can also put a strain on the spine, leading to low back pain. People with a history of cancer are at risk of experiencing back pain due to the possibility of cancer spreading to the spine.

Not being active can result in weakened muscles and reduced flexibility, which can make the discomfort worse. Lack of physical activity can also reduce blood flow to the spinal nerves and surrounding tissues, potentially causing pain.

When it comes to treating individuals with low back pain, a multidisciplinary approach is often necessary. This may involve physical therapy, using medication to manage pain or reduce inflammation, and in severe cases, undergoing surgery. Losing weight is often recommended to relieve pressure on the spine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed to help manage symptoms. Understanding these factors is essential for creating personalized treatment plans for those dealing with low back pain.

To diagnose the cause of low back pain, we evaluate mobility with a physical examination. Then, based on your medical history and symptoms we may order additional tests.

Our goal is to find the source of the pain and recommend the best treatment plan to achieve long-term healing.

The medical history is important because it helps to identify any underlying conditions or past injuries that could be contributing to the back pain. X-rays can show any bone abnormalities, while MRI scans can give a good look at soft tissues, discs, and nerve roots. Physical assessments help us see how well the patient can move, how strong they are, and if there are any nerve issues present. If needed, diagnostic injections can help figure out which specific structures are causing the pain by temporarily numbing them.

Getting the right diagnosis is key to coming up with effective ways to manage low back pain for those who are experiencing it.

Posture plays a big part in how our muscles and spine align, impacting the stress on our backs. If we have poor posture, our muscles can get tense, our spine can get misaligned, and we might even end up compressing our spinal nerves, all leading to back pain. It is important to work on our posture to keep our body weight evenly distributed along our spine.

When our posture is off, certain muscles might have to work extra hard, causing them to get tense and potentially painful. Bad posture can also mess with the alignment of our spine, possibly squishing our spinal nerves. Having good posture helps spread out our body weight evenly on our spine, which can reduce pressure on specific areas.

When it comes to back pain, it is not just about how you sit or stand. Your job can also play a big role in causing muscle and joint issues. Some jobs involve doing the same movements over and over, lifting heavy things, or sitting for long periods, all of which can lead to back pain and discomfort in your joints. People who have to bend or twist a lot at work are more likely to end up with ongoing back problems. Studies show that the things you do at work can affect how much pain you feel in your muscles and joints.

There are lots of reasons why your job might be causing your back pain, like having a bad setup at your desk or not being trained properly on how to lift things safely. It is important to spot these risks early on so you can stop them from causing bigger problems later. Your doctor or other healthcare providers can teach you how to set up your workspace better, suggest changes to make your job safer, and give you tips on how to prevent pain.

If you tackle the things at work that might be causing your back pain now, you can lower your chances of getting serious muscle and joint issues. Taking steps to prevent problems that match up with what you do for work is key to keeping your spine healthy overall and reducing the impact of your job on how your muscles and joints feel.

Chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis can make your muscles and joints ache more and make it harder to move around. These conditions can make your back hurt even more by messing with your spine or putting pressure on your nerves.

When it comes to dealing with chronic conditions that cause back pain, therapy is super important. Physical therapy can help make your muscles stronger and more flexible, and teach you how to move your body in ways that don’t hurt. Sometimes, doctors might give you muscle relaxers to help with any muscle spasms that are making your back pain worse.

If your chronic conditions are causing really bad symptoms like a pinched nerve or tumors in your spine, you might need more serious treatments. It is important to keep an eye on your bone density if you have conditions like osteoarthritis to prevent broken bones and spine issues that come from weak bones. Understanding how chronic conditions affect your back pain is key to figuring out the best ways to treat it for people dealing with these tough health problems.

Each patient receives a customized treatment plan based on their specific condition and needs. When needed, we refer patients to other healthcare providers, including surgeons or physical therapists.

At Founders Family Medicine, we take a comprehensive approach to managing back pain. Our goal is to address your pain and discomfort through a combination of medication, surgical options, and physical therapy.

We may recommend medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or opioids to help alleviate your symptoms. In some cases, surgical interventions such as discectomy or spinal fusion may be considered if other treatments do not provide relief.

Physical therapy is also an important part of our approach, as it focuses on improving the strength, flexibility, and overall function of your spine. Our team is dedicated to helping you find the best treatment plan to address your back pain and improve your quality of life.

When needed, we prescribe medication to aid with pain management, inflammation, and range of motion. Common prescriptions include analgesics, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and topical pain relief.

If other treatment options do not work or for severe conditions, we may refer patients to a surgeon. Procedures like spinal fusion, laminectomy, or discectomy may be recommended.

Before surgery, doctors may use bone scans to check the condition of the bones and tissues around the back. During the surgery, bone grafting techniques might be used to help the area heal and become more stable.

The goal of surgery is to address specific issues causing the pain, like tissue damage or abnormalities in the spine. These procedures are usually suggested when other treatments haven’t worked well enough or if other health issues require surgery for the best results.

Often strengthening or changing the function of the body helps reduce low back pain. 

Physical therapy is all about helping you improve your function, mobility, and overall quality of life. It involves targeted exercises and hands-on techniques to get you feeling better.

Therapists focus on strengthening your abdominal muscles to support your lower back, as well as stretching your leg muscles to increase flexibility and reduce strain on your lower back. They may also use manual therapies to ease painful muscle spasms in the affected area.

These therapeutic exercises are crucial for regaining strength and flexibility, which are essential for getting back to your normal activities. If you’re experiencing discomfort in your upper body, therapists may suggest specific exercises to help improve your posture. They might also recommend using heating pads to relieve pain caused by muscle tension or stiffness in your lower back.

Preventing low back pain is all about maintaining good posture, staying active, and strengthening your core muscles. Having proper posture is key because it helps distribute weight evenly and prevents strain on your lower back.

Regular exercise, especially activities that focus on flexibility and strength in your back and abs, can improve the health of your spine. Strengthening your core muscles gives extra support to your spine and lowers the chances of getting hurt and ending up with lower back pain.

It is also important to make sure you have good blood flow by doing things like stretching or yoga. Poor blood flow can lead to muscle stiffness and weakness, which can make lower back pain worse. By incorporating these preventive measures into your daily routine, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting low back pain.

When your lower back pain is getting worse or just won’t go away, and you start feeling numbness or weakness in your legs, it is a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider. They can help figure out what might be causing your pain. Sometimes, low back pain in grown-ups can be a sign of different things, like arthritis or even something more serious like an aortic aneurysm. If you’re losing weight without trying and your back hurts, it could be a sign of a bigger issue. Other symptoms like tingling feelings, weakness, or problems with going to the bathroom might also give clues to what’s going on.

If your back hurts all the time and certain movements make it worse, it is important not to ignore it, especially if you’re carrying extra weight. If you have a fever, chills, or sweats at night, or if you’ve had cancer before, it is a good idea to see a doctor. If you’re dealing with constant low back pain along with numbness, weight loss, or signs of something more serious like fever or night sweats, it is best to see a healthcare provider sooner rather than later. They can help figure out what’s going on and make sure you get the right treatment. Schedule an appointment for an evaluation.

Low back pain is a common issue that many people experience at some point in their lives. Whether it is due to poor posture, injury, or underlying medical conditions, dealing with low back pain can be debilitating and affect your daily life. That’s why Founders Family Medicine is here to help.

Founders Family Medicine provides effective diagnosis and treatment for low back pain at our Castle Rock Clinic. We offer both in-clinic and online appointments for your convenience.

Our team of experienced healthcare professionals will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your lower back pain. We offer a comprehensive approach that may include physical therapy, medication management, and more.

At Founders Family Medicine, we understand the impact that chronic low back pain can have on your quality of life. That’s why we are dedicated to helping you find relief so you can get back to doing the things you love. If you are suffering from low back pain, don’t wait any longer to seek treatment.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists. We will take the time to listen to your concerns, perform a thorough evaluation, and develop a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.