Lower Back Pain

What are the common causes of lower back pain?

Many injuries and conditions can cause lower back pain ranging from acute injuries, to degenerative diseases, to spinal deformities. 

For example, sprains and strains in your back muscles and connective tissues are the cause of most acute back pain. Your lower back pain may also be due to:

• Osteoarthritis
  
• Spondylosis 
  
• Osteoporosis fracture 
  
• Degenerative disc disease
  
• Herniated or bulging discs
  
• Spondylolisthesis
  
• Spinal stenosis
  
• Scoliosis
  
• Lordosis
• Kyphosis
  
• Workplace injury
• Personal injury
  

If you have shooting pains, electrical sensations, or weakness in your buttocks or one of your legs as well as back pain, your pain could be due to compression of your sciatic nerve or lower spinal cord. 

Sciatica is the name for the collection of symptoms that occur when a herniated disc or other condition irritates or compresses your sciatic nerve.  This will give you symptoms radiating down your legs past your knees, commonly to your feet.

When should I talk to a doctor about lower back pain?

If you have acute back pain due to a strain or sprain in your back, it should start to subside after a couple of days of rest and at-home therapy such as hot and cold compresses and over-the-counter medication. 

However, if your pain lasts for more than 2-4 weeks or intensifies, you should make an appointment at McNulty Spine for diagnosis and treatment.

How is the cause of lower back pain diagnosed?

Dr. McNulty provides a comprehensive exam, which may include a variety of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of your back pain. Some of the available tests include:

• X-rays
  
• MRI
  
• CT scan
  
• Discography
  
• Myelography
• Bone scan
• Spinal injections

During the exam, Dr. McNulty asks about your pain and other symptoms. He examines your spine for abnormalities and may guide you through some movements to locate the cause of your pain and gauge its effect on your mobility.

How is lower back pain treated?

Dr. McNulty provides a wide range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options for lower back pain. He creates a treatment plan to address your specific condition, both alleviating your pain and healing the condition causing it. Your treatment plan could include:

• Physical therapy
• Chiropractic treatment
• Spinal injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
  
• Nerve blocks
  
• Disc replacement
  
• Fusion surgeries
  
• Reconstruction surgeries
  

Dr. McNulty is skilled in traditional open surgical operations as well as minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques. 

If lower back pain is interfering with your quality of life, call McNulty Spine or schedule an appointment online today.