Lower Back Pain

Prevention

Reduce your risk.

You may be able to avoid back pain or prevent its recurrence by improving your physical condition, and learning and practicing proper body mechanics.

To keep your back healthy and strong:

• Exercise. Regular, low-impact aerobic activities—those that don’t strain or jolt your back—can increase strength and endurance in your back, while allowing your muscles to function better. Talk with your doctor about which activities are best for you.
• Build muscle strength and flexibility. Abdominal and back muscle exercises (core-strengthening exercises) help condition these muscles so that they work together. Your doctor or physical therapist can tell which exercises are right for you.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight strains back muscles.

Diagnosis

Get the answers you need.

At some time in their lives, most people will suffer from lower back pain. This pain can be due to a wide range of causes. For some lower back pain patients, there is a genetic component to their condition. Others may suffer through lower back pain brought on by a mechanical problem. Most often, lower back conditions are caused by injuries or the wear-and-tear of aging. The good news is that the majority of cases improve on their own. For pain that persists, a visit to a spine specialist is a necessity. Our orthopaedic surgeons provide expert treatment for patients with lower back pain and disorders. Diagnosis is accomplished through a combination of physical examinations and imaging tests, such as MRIs and CT scans.

Treatment

Life’s too short to put up with pain.

After diagnosis, Dr. Kayal and his expert team can determine appropriate treatment for each patient. Conservative treatment may include rest or limited activity, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, braces, and steroidal injections. If lower back symptoms continue, surgery might be necessary.