Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Treatment Options

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

More Low Back Pain Info:

Low Back Pain Causes

Understanding Low Back Pain

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Back Pain Mattresses

Accurate Diagnosis of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

More Low Back Pain Info:

Low Back Pain Causes

Low Back Pain Treatment

Coccydynia Introduction

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Mattresses for Low Back Pain

Axial Back Pain: Most Common Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Axial low back pain can vary widely. It can be a sharp or dull pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, and the pain can range from mild to severe. The most common type of axial back pain is "mechanical” and is characterized as:

Causes of Coccydynia

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

The coccyx is the very bottom portion of the spine. It represents a vestigial tail (hence the common term "tailbone") and consists of four or more very small bones fused together. The coccyx articulates with the sacrum through a vestigial disc, and is also connected to the sacrum with ligaments (see Figure 1).

Coccydynia: A Real Pain in the Tailbone

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

More Coccydynia Info:

Coccydynia Causes

Low Back Pain Causes

Low Back Pain Symptoms and Treatments

Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

For patients with lower back pain that lasts longer than two weeks to three months, or is predominantly leg pain, a specific and definable problem is often the source of pain. Several types of low back and leg pain tend to be more common in either younger or older adults.

Conservative Treatments for Coccydynia

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Treatments for coccydynia are usually conservative and local. The first line of treatment typically includes:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, COX-2 inhibitors) help reduce the inflammation that can cause pain.
A donut-shaped pillow to help take pressure off the coccyx when sitting

Patience is also very important, since it often takes many weeks, or even months, for the pain to subside.

Diagnosis of Coccydynia

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

A health professional diagnoses coccydynia by taking a thorough medical history from the patient and completing a physical examination. Diagnostic tests, such as x-ray or MRI, are also commonly performed in order to rule out other potential causes of the pain.

A thorough physical examination should include:

Discogram to Diagnose Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:21 -0800

Similar to an SNRB and facet joint block, a discogram is a test to determine the anatomical source of low back pain for the patient. This procedure is most frequently used to determine if degenerative disc disease is the cause of a patient’s pain (discogenic low back pain). Discograms are also performed to assist in preoperative planning for candidates for a lumbar spinal fusion.

First Steps in Caring for Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Self-care for low back pain

Since most episodes of low back pain are self-limited, it is often advisable for patients to try self-care early in the course of low back pain. In most cases, treatment for low back pain should center on a combination of:

A short course of rest, limited to one to two days
Pain medication, such as NSAID’s (e.g. ibuprofen) and/or acetaminophen
Application of ice and/or heat on the lower back to decrease inflammation.
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Low Back Pain and Sciatica: Radicular Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Type of pain

Low Back Pain from Muscle Strain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

The majority of episodes of acute lower back pain are caused by damage to the muscles and/or ligaments in the low back. Even though a muscle strain doesn’t sound like a serious injury, the low back pain can be surprisingly severe and is the cause of many emergency room visits each year.

More Low Back Pain Info:

Low Back Pain Causes

Low Back Pain Symptoms and Treatments

Low Back Pain with Referred Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

More Low Back Pain Info:

Low Back Pain Causes

Low Back Pain Symptoms and Treatments

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Mattresses for Low Back Pain

Pregnancy Related Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

As many as 80% of pregnant women will experience low back pain, especially in the their third trimester of the pregnancy.

Typically, the pain will be in the sacroiliac joints, and is probably due to a combination of carrying extra weight and hormonal factors that act to widen the sacroiliac joints and increase the size of the birth canal.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint is thought to cause low back and/or leg pain. The pain can be similar to pain caused by a lumbar disc herniation. This condition is generally more common in young and middle age women.

Surgical Treatments for Coccydynia

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

More Coccydnia Info:

Coccydnia Introduction

Coccydnia Causes

Low Back Pain Symptoms and Treatments

For people who have persistent pain that is not alleviated or well-controlled with conservative treatment of coccydynia, surgical removal of the coccyx (coccygectomy) is an option.

Treatment Options for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction is usually conservative (non-surgical) and focuses on trying to restore normal motion in the joint.

Typical treatments for sacroiliac joint dysfunction include:

Understanding Low Back Pain (Lumbago)

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Principles of Low Back Pain

90% of people afflicted by low back pain will recover completely within about six weeks. For the 10% of patients who do not recover within a few weeks, low back pain can be a painful, prolonged, costly and frustrating experience.

When Motion Causes Low Back Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:22 -0800

Motion Can Cause Problems

The back is a remarkable combination of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, large muscles and highly sensitive nerves. It was designed to move, to be incredibly strong, protecting the highly sensitive nerve roots, yet highly flexible. However, some motion in the spine, even micro-motion at a specific spinal segment, can cause pain. This newsletter explains how motion segments can cause pain in the lower back and how they can be treated.