Chronic Lower Back Pain
Just like back pain, chronic lower back pain is a common reason for a visit to the doctor. According to statistics, lower back muscle pain is a leading cause of job-related disability. On average, 80% of Americans will suffer from chronic lower back pain at some point in their life. Acute Lower back pain can significantly affect your ability to live your life to the fullest as it can limit range of motion or movement to the point that you aren’t able to work or do the things you love. With such a large number at risk of lower back muscle pain, it is important to address acute lower back pain symptoms and seek treatment to alleviate it before it affects your life and ability to function optimally.
What Causes Lower Back Muscle Pain?
Lower back muscle pain is most often caused by injury such as sprains or strains to the muscles of the back. This type of injury can occur from a variety of causes such as lifting heavy objects incorrectly, sudden wrong movements, sports injuries or even car accident injuries.
In addition to injury, spinal misalignments, disc herniations, sciatica, arthritis, spinal infections, or tumors of the spine can also be the source of acute lower back pain. For some, back pain can come and go, lasting anywhere from a day to a few weeks.
Chronic lower back pain, however, is back pain that lasts longer than three months and continues. Whether your lower back pain is a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing pain, it can affect your overall quality of life. But you don’t have to live with lower back pain. AICA orthopedic doctors are highly trained and skilled to both diagnose chronic lower back pain and provide exceptional treatment to address your specific type of pain and bring about relief.
Schedule a Consultation With A Lower Back Doctor
If nothing you have tried seems to relieve your lower back pain, there is hope with AICA Orthopedics. Consult with our orthopedic specialists to find out your options for lower back pain treatment. Schedule a consultation today to set up an appointment.
MRI
An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, is a high tech imaging tool that gives orthopedic specialists a closer look at the source of lower back pain. This imaging service is extremely beneficial for locating problematic areas of the soft tissue in the back such as muscles or ligament tear or sprains.
LEARN MORECT Scan
A CT Scan takes pictures in small slices and then puts them together to create a moving picture. This allows orthopedic specialists to see in detail areas of concern in the lower back. It can help identify joint wear and tear, inflammation, some soft tissue damage, or herniated discs.
LEARN MOREX-Ray
An X-Ray uses a small amount of radiation that passes through the body to display the harder parts of the spine such as vertebrae. X-Rays are useful in helping orthopedic specialists locate spinal misalignments, herniated discs, or fractures of the spine.
LEARN MORENerve Testing
The most common type of nerve testing for lower back pain is called Electromyography, or EMG. An EMG test measures the function of the nerves and muscles to identify areas of concern such as pinched nerves or other types of nerve damage.
Who is Affected by Lower Back Pain?
While back pain can affect men and women of any age, risks of back pain increase the older we get. As we age, wear and tear of the back can lead to pain. For this reason, lower back pain can begin anywhere between 30 to 50 years of age. The body begins to wear out, fluid between the vertebrae decreases, and spinal discs are more prone to irritation. It’s not only vertebrae and discs that are affected by aging, but also muscles. We tend to lose muscle tone the older we get, which makes us more susceptible to back injuries. It’s always a good idea to strengthen and tone the body all throughout a lifetime in order to prevent injuries and increase health. Orthopedic specialists at AICA can not only address lower back pain, but also help ensure you develop muscle tone to keep injuries from happening again.
Orthopedic Care to Alleviate Lower Back Muscle Pain
If you suffer from debilitating lower back muscle pain, AICA orthopedic specialists are here to help. With the help of high tech imaging services such as MRIs or X Rays, our specialists can provide an accurate diagnosis of the source of lower back pain. They then utilize their knowledge and expertise to develop a comprehensive treatment program that addresses your specific pain to get you on the path to recovery and healing. Physical therapists can increase range of motion and muscle tone. Chiropractors remove spinal misalignments that can cause pinched nerves or muscle tightness. Other orthopedic specialists such as spinal specialists or neurologists will also work with you to address nerve function, correct herniated disc pain, or reduce inflammation and joint pain caused by arthritis. You are in expert hands at AICA Orthopedics in Atlanta.
