Lower Back Pain

What is lower back pain?

Pain in your lower back, or lumbar spine, describes discomfort anywhere between your ribs and legs. This common issue occurs in at least 31 million adults at any given moment.

When you have lower back pain, it can develop because of issues associated with your:

• Muscles
• Ligaments and tendons
• Blood vessels
• Vertebrae
• Intervertebral discs
• Spinal cord nerves
• Spinal cord

The low back is the most common region for back pain, but you can also have pain in your neck (cervical spine) and upper back or shoulders.

What causes lower back pain?

There are several causes of lower back pain, including traumatic events like car accidents or sports injuries. It’s also possible to have back pain after lifting heavy objects improperly or reaching and twisting for something.

In addition to physical injury to your back, you can also develop lower back pain because of health conditions such as:

• Kidney stones
• Fibromyalgia
• Scoliosis
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis

Less frequently, lower back pain occurs because of issues like infections, inflammation, or tumors.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

Dr. Chekemian diagnoses lower back pain by conducting a comprehensive exam, discussing your medical and personal history, and reviewing your pain symptoms.

Based on your exam, Dr. Chekemian might suggest additional diagnostic screenings, such as:

• X-rays or MRIs to check for physical abnormalities
• Nerve conduction or evoked potential studies that evaluate nerve function
• Electromyography (EMG) to look at muscular electrical activity

Sometimes, Dr. Chekemian might also recommend using specialized pain management injection studies to assess your symptoms further. 

How is lower back pain treated?

After reaching a diagnosis, Dr. Chekemian develops a personalized treatment strategy for your specific condition. Common treatments for lower back pain often include:

Oral or topical medications, like anti-inflammatories, pain relievers, and muscle relaxants

• Nerve blocks
• Physical therapy

Depending on the cause of your lower back pain, Dr. Chekemian repair damage and restore function by triggering your body’s natural ability to heal.

For more information on diagnosing and treating lower back pain, call Academic Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online today.