What Is Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain is the second most common reason people go to the doctor or miss work, next to the common cold, and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide.

Fortunately, you can take measures to prevent or relieve most back pain episodes. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain. Back pain can be acute, meaning short-term, or chronic, meaning long-term. Acute back pain can usually be treated through conservative measures, such as hot or cold compresses, massage therapy, or over-the-counter pain relievers. Chronic pain usually needs a number of alternative and interventional treatment options to provide consistent, lasting pain relief.

Person suffering from Pain in Both Neck & Lower Back in St. George, UT

Common Causes of Lower Back Pain

  • Herniated disc – The inner materials of a spinal disc bulge through a weakened outer layer, compressing nerves.
  • Facet joint damage – Injury or long-time wear to the spine’s facet joints which connect vertebrae.
  • Spinal stenosis – The narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramina, often due to aging or degeneration, which compresses nerves.
  • Compression fracture – When vertebra collapses due to osteoporosis or trauma, most common in older adults.
  • Scoliosis – The sideways curvature of the spine, often in an “S” or “C” shape.
  • Spondylolisthesis – When a vertebra slips forward or backward, typically in the lower spine due to a stress fracture.

Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

The main and most telling symptom of lower back pain is a pain or aching in the lower region of the back that can vary in intensity. This pain can range from dull and aching for long periods of time to a sharp shooting or stabbing sensation that is triggered by an action or movement.
Person receiving a Caudal Steroid Injection for non-surgical back pain relief in St. George, UT & nearby areas

Treatment for Lower Pain Back

  • Hands-on adjustments – Osteopathic manipulation, massage therapy, and chiropractic adjustments can all be used to relax muscles, improve alignment, and reduce pain.
  • Medication – Anti-inflammatory or prescription drugs are often used to relax muscles in the treatment of chronic lower back pain.
  • Physical therapy – Physical therapy can strengthen the lower back muscles and improve flexibility to help relieve the pain.
  • Injections – Steroid injections are used to relieve pain in the specific area that is triggering discomfort.
  • Surgery – Surgical repair can be used to address certain conditions and injuries that cause lower back pain that cannot be relieved by other methods.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

Typically, your spinal care specialist will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to accurately diagnose lower back pain. Depending on the extent of the pain, your provider may also request a spine x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or EMG study. These tests can help provide enhanced information about your condition and allow for the best, most effective treatment

Why Choose Desert Pain Specialists?

The professional and experienced team at Desert Pain Specialists is proud to serve patients in a state-of-the-art facility located in St. George, Utah. When it comes to diagnosing and treating conditions like lower back pain, Desert Pain Specialists is a great choice for spinal care. Our team is committed to a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach that treats individual pain with the most appropriate care.

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