How to Treat Severe Lower Back Pains
Because the back is such a complex part of your body, there are many different types and causes of back pain. Identifying where the pain is coming from on your own can be difficult, and that’s where a back pain specialist can help. Multiple bones, joints, ligaments, nerves, and muscles work together to get you from one place to another. Back pain can be caused by a disease or illness you may not know about or something minor. If you’re like most people, severe lower back pain occurs due to your daily routine, work, and lifestyle choices.
About 80 percent of adults will experience some kind of lower back pain in their lifetime. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most people will experience their first attack of severe lower back pain between the ages of 30 and 50.
In an effort to find relief, most of us will reach for an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or a pain reliever medication. Those can work to some degree, however, if your injury is more severe, they will not provide you with the relief you need to get back to your normal routine. Depending on your condition and the cause of your discomfort, severe lower back pain treatment options may include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, surgery, or medication.
Relief for Severe Lower Back Pains
- Lifestyle changes:Are you on your feet a lot or lifting heavy things on a regular basis? In some instances, more supportive shoes or a better lifting technique can take the everyday pressure off your back and gradually begin to relieve severe lower back pains. Talk to your doctor about your lifestyle and if there are any changes you should make.
- Physical therapy: Certain stretches such as core-strengthening exercises can help loosen and relieve severe lower back pains. A physical therapist can work with you to teach you the proper exercises that target the lower back, strengthen the muscles, and provide relief from your discomfort.
- Medication: A pain management specialist can work with you to diagnose the cause of your pain and develop a plan for relieving the pain through medication or injections. He or she may work closely with other specialists to determine the proper course of action.
- Surgery: As a last resort, back surgery may be the best option to relieve the most severe lower back pains. Sometimes surgeries can be minimally-invasive, such as radiofrequency ablation, or sometimes more serious causes of severe lower back pains can lead to other types of surgeries. A pain management specialist can work with you and other physicians, such as orthopedic doctors, to determine if any type of surgery is needed.
When Back Pain is Unbearable
If you’re at your wits’ end with back pain, then contacting a physician like Dr. Zaky or Dr. Felter who specializes in pain management may be a good option for you.
If you’re interested in talking with Dr. Zaky about your pain management options, mention him to your primary care physician, who can refer you to a pain management specialist.
