Lower Back Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment
Most people in the United States experience lower back pain at some point. Some studies estimate that over 70-80% of people will experience low back pain in their lifetime. Low back pain is the second most common reason for a symptom-related visit to a healthcare provider. It is the most frequent cause of lost work time and disability in patients younger than 45 years.Despite how common lower back pain is, it can be difficult to identify the exact cause of the pain. At Salt Lake Spine & Sports Medicine, we utilize a variety of methods combined with experience to help pinpoint and treat the most likely causes of your back pain.
How do we determine the source of your lower back pain?
Lower back pain can be acute or chronic. Sometimes it follows a specific event, trauma, or injury, but it can also develop gradually. In most cases of acute low back pain, symptoms improve quickly, but sometimes, the pain lingers on. Along with pain, you can also experience a loss in range of motion, radiating pain or numbness/tingling into the legs, or pain in other areas of the body from a change in biomechanics due to the back pain.As experienced musculoskeletal specialists, we use a variety of techniques to help determine the possible cause of your pain, including the following:
- Taking time to reviewing your history
- Performing a thorough physical examination
- When necessary, obtaining appropriate imaging techniques such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, CT
- Using electrodiagnostic studies to evaluate nerve function
What conditions produce low back pain?
We work to help determine the cause of your pain so we can suggest an effective treatment. There are a variety of injuries and conditions that cause or are associated with back pain, such as:- Muscle strain
- Degenerative changes/Osteoarthritis
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Fractures
- Infections
- Cancer
What are some of the available treatments for lower back pain?
At Salt Lake Spine & Sports Medicine, we put together a treatment plan focusing on a variety of non-surgical techniques to treat low back pain. Most patients are able to find relief in treatment programs that utilize some of the following:- Physical therapy
- Home exercise program
- Pain medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Cortisone injections
If you are living with acute or chronic lower back pain and are searching for a specialist in Utah, don't hesitate to call our office. We can help diagnose and treat the cause of your back pain and get you back to your life.
Is Our Practice Right For You?
We diagnose and treat people with numb hands/arms, numb legs/feet, upper, mid, and low back pain, painful arms, legs, and joints. If a medical doctor of another specialty or a colleague of another profession is a better match for your needs, we will get you pointed in the right direction.
What can you expect when you visit our practice?
You can expect to be treated respectfully and kindly by our team. You can expect to have all of your symptoms addressed. You can expect a thorough evaluation and explanation. You can expect to have your questions answered so that you can make good decisions about your health care. We will discuss your treatment options/alternatives so that you can feel comfortable with your treatment plan.
