How is lower back pain diagnosed? Your provider will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. To check for broken bones or other damage, your provider may order imaging studies. These studies help your provider see clear pictures of your vertebrae, disks, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Your provider may order: Spine X-ray, which uses radiation to produce images of bones. MRI uses a magnet and radio waves to create pictures of bones, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to create 3D images of bones and soft tissues. Electromyography (EMG) tests nerves and muscles and checks for neuropathy (nerve damage), which can cause tingling or numbness in your legs. Depending on the cause of the pain, your provider may also order blood tests or urine tests. Blood tests can detect genetic markers for some conditions that cause back pain (such as ankylosing spondylitis). Urine tests check for kidney stones, which cause pain in the flank (the sides of the low back). What are the treatments for lower back pain? Lower back pain usually gets better with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers. After a few days of rest, you can start to get back to your normal activities. Staying active increases blood flow to the area and helps you heal. TNT MAGAZINE | 47
Disk problems: Disks cushion the vertebrae (small spinal bones). Disks can bulge from their position in the spine and press on a nerve. They can also tear (herniated disks). With age, disks can get flatter and offer less protection (degenerative disk disease). Structural problems: A condition called spinal stenosis happens when the spinal column is too narrow for the spinal cord. Something pinching the spinal cord can cause severe sciatic nerve pain and lower back pain. Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) can lead to pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving. Arthritis : Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to cause lower back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis causes lower back pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the spine. Disease: Spine tumor infections and several types of cancer can cause back pain. Other conditions can cause back pain, too. These include kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Spondylolisthesis: This condition causes the vertebrae in the spine to slip out of place. Spondylolisthesis leads to low back pain and often leg pain as well.
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