More than three-quarters of Americans experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. Wear-and-tear and aging are common causes of lower back pain. Apollo Pain Management in Sun City Center, Florida, offers effective diagnosis and treatment of lower back pain to help you get back to the activities you love. An interventional pain management specialist, R. James Warren, MD, performs treatments, such as epidural injections and kyphoplasty, to provide you with relief. Call today or schedule a consultation online.

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What causes lower back pain?

Your lower back is made up of five vertebrae. Small discs cushion the vertebrae and dozens of nerves. Its complex structure makes your lower back prone to problems. As many as 85% of Americans suffer some form of lower back pain at some point in their lives.

Lower back pain can be brought on by many things, including:

  • Degenerated, herniated, and/or ruptured discs
  • Spinal stenosis (compression of the spinal canal that pinches the spinal cord)
  • Scoliosis and other congenital abnormalities
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sprains and strains
  • Radiculopathy (a pinched nerve or nerves)
  • Sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve)

In rare cases, lower back pain is due to an underlying medical condition, such as a tumor.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

To diagnose your condition, Dr. Warren at Apollo Pain Management takes a complete medical history, evaluates your symptoms, and performs a physical exam.

Dr. Warren typically recommends diagnostic studies to pinpoint the cause of your lower back pain. These studies include:

  • X-rays
  • Computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Selective nerve root block
  • Myelogram
  • Discography
  • Electromyography (EMG)
  • Nerve conduction studies (NCS)

Once Dr. Warren determines the source of your lower back pain, he recommends treatment to relieve it.

How is lower back pain treated?

Depending on the reason for your lower back pain, Dr. Warren creates a treatment plan that can include:

  • Back exercises
  • Limiting your physical activity
  • Physical therapy or rehabilitation
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications

Dr. Warren might also recommend epidural steroid injections. These injections, which offer temporary relief, are commonly used to treat lower back pain and sciatica due to inflammation.

The goal of these treatments is to relieve inflammation in your lower back and irritation of nerve roots. If you’re not feeling any relief after about six weeks, Dr. Warren might suggest surgery.

In cases where a fracture or a crushed vertebra is causing your lower back pain, Dr. Warren can offer a procedure called kyphoplasty. Kyphoplasty involves injecting your damaged bone with cement to give it strength and relieve your pain.

If lower back pain has been troubling you, Dr. Warren is an interventional pain management specialist with expertise in diagnosing and treating lower back pain. Call Apollo Pain Management today or book a consultation online.