Injuries & Low Back Pain

What is low back pain? Low back pain can affect the back anywhere below the ribs and above the legs. The lower back is the connection between the upper and lower body, and it bears most of the body’s weight. Because of these roles, it is easily injured when you lift, reach, or twist.

Almost everyone has low back pain at one time or another. The good news is that most low back pain will go away in a few weeks with some basic self-care. BUT if your pain is severe or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.

What causes low back pain? Low back pain is often caused by overuse, strain, or injury. For instance, people often hurt their backs playing sports or working in the yard, being jolted by a car accident, or lifting something too heavy.

Aging plays a part too. Your bones and muscles tend to lose strength as you age, which increases your risk of injury. The spongy discs between the bones of the spine (vertebrae) may suffer wear and tear and no longer provide enough cushion between the bones. A disc that bulges or breaks open (herniated disc) can press on nerves, causing back pain.

In some people, low back pain is the result of arthritis, broken vertebrae (compression fractures) caused by bone loss (osteoporosis), illness, or a spine problem you were born with.

Often doctors don’t really know what causes low back pain. But it is more likely to become long-lasting (chronic) if you are under stress or depressed.

 What are the symptoms? Depending on the cause, low back pain can cause a range of symptoms including:

• Dull, burning, or sharp pain
• Pain at a single point or over a broad area
• Pain that comes on gradually or suddenly
• Pain that occurs with muscle spasm or stiffness
• Leg symptoms, such as pain, numbness, or tingling, often extending below the knee

Symptoms the extend into the legs can occur on their own or along with low back pain. Leg symptoms are often caused by lower spine problems that place pressure on a nerve that leads to the leg.

What do I do when I experience low back pain after an injury at work or an automobile collision, and I was not sent to the ER? 

• If you are injured in an automobile accident, see your personal doctor as soon as possible when you begin to experience symptoms. Be as descriptive as possible about the pain you are experiencing.
• If you are injured at work, report the injury to your SUPERVISOR as soon as possible and request to see an approved doctor.

I was sent to the ER, but I am still experiencing pain from my injury. What do I do?  

Do I ask for an MRI? Simply put, no. Injuries causing low back pain may not require an MRI. The key is being as specific and clear as possible with the doctor treating you about where your pain is located (a specific place or pain the extends into other areas such as your legs, feet, toes), the sensations you feel (burning, numbness, tingling, etc.), and if the pain is improving or worsening. Being as descriptive as possible with your doctor about your low back pain is the best way for your doctor to arrive at a proper diagnosis.