What Causes Lumbar Spine Pain?

Lumbar spine pain can be caused by many things. Many things you do in life can affect your back and cause pain. If you have bad posture while sitting or standing, you are harming your back. If you lift items the wrong way, you can strain your back. There are so many ways that you can hurt your back and you don’t even realize them until you’re hurting. Getting your pain taken care of can be as easy as rest or it can be as complex as having surgery, only a health care professional can tell you exactly how hurt your back is and what your treatment options are.

Having surgery on your lumbar spine is generally a last resort. It is only considered when all other treatment options have failed. The first step is usually pain killers and physical therapy. Doing physical therapy can dramatically help your back pain and you may not have to have any other treatments done. The physical therapist can teach you ways to keep your back healthy and strong on your own as well. Following their treatment plan for you will benefit you the most. Some back pain can be cured by doing simple exercises and walking.

When physical therapy doesn’t work, the next option is having injections. These injections are given straight into your back and for most patients help dramatically.  They can help you walk straight and take the pain out of many lower back pain problems. Sciatica is the most common ailment that is treated with injections. The injections are given the same way as an epidural is and are an out-patient treatment option. Once begun, you may have to have these injections up to 3 times a year. If the injections work then you are safe to take surgery off the table.

When your back pain is severe and there are no more options, you may have to have lumbar spine surgery. This type of surgery is only used when every other method has been tried. If you suffer from herniated discs or other back ailments that no other treatment has helped, you may need surgery. Find a surgeon you are comfortable with and that your insurance will cover. Back surgery is costly so having help from your insurance will help. Once you have had a few consuls and picked out the surgeon you feel comfortable with, you will have your surgery. Give yourself ample time for recovery and hopefully your pain is taken care of.