How to Get to the Root of Your Chronic Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common reason why Americans seek help from a pain management specialist like Jose De La Torre, MD. Chronic pain can be a side effect of many conditions, so it’s important to understand exactly what’s causing it.

New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain in your lower back.

Dr. De La Torre and our team use the latest technologies to assess your spinal structures and pinpoint the root cause of your pain. We also customize a care plan that focuses on lasting pain relief, so you can enjoy a higher quality of life.

5 potential causes of chronic lower back pain

Chronic pain describes pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer and significantly limits what you can do physically. You may be susceptible to chronic pain in your lower back due to certain lifestyle habits like poor posture or a lack of exercise.

There are also medical causes of chronic lower back pain. Here are five of the most common root causes of lower back pain:

1.Herniated disc

Between your vertebrae are rubbery discs that absorb the shock of your movements. A herniated disc occurs when trauma or excess pressure forces the gel-like center of a spinal disc outward, which can compress nearby nerves and trigger chronic pain.

2. Degenerative disc disease

Degenerative disc disease caused the protective spinal discs to become less flexible, which can lead to a herniated disc.

3. Scoliosis

Scoliosis describes an abnormal curvature in your spinal column. The condition can contribute to nerve compression, worn-out discs, and muscle strains that lead to chronic back pain.

4. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition that results from the loss of bone density, which can increase risk factors for painful vertebral fractures.

5. Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can occur with age, arthritis, or trauma. The narrowing of the canal puts pressure on the spinal cord, causing pain, weakness, and numbness in the lower extremities.

Tools to identify lower back pain causes

In addition to a review of your medical history and a comprehensive physical exam, Dr. De La Torre and our pain management team may also recommend diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a closer look at the bones and soft tissues of your spine to identify the root cause of pain.

We also offer electromyography, a minimally invasive test to measure the electrical activity in your muscle when you’re in motion and at rest.

In some cases, you might need a nerve conduction study to assess the health and function of your spinal nerves. If your lower back pain is nerve-related, our team can inject an anesthetic medication into a specific nerve to see if it provides pain relief. If so, Dr. De La Torre can suggest selective nerve blocks as a part of your treatment plan.

Our goal is to help you achieve lasting pain relief, so you can stay active. Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight are essential to preventing chronic back conditions from getting worse.

Call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in Wesley Chapel, Florida, today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for chronic lower back pain, or click on the online scheduler to book an appointment.