Lower Back Pain: Expert Advice and Insights from Dr Sudharshan Agarwal, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Tirupati, India.

HealthHOD
Aug 29 ^th, 2024

Introduction

Lower back pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp, persistent pain, it can significantly impact daily life and activities. To help our readers better understand this condition, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about lower back pain. Dr. Sudarsan Agarwal, MBBS MS MCh, Neurosurgery. an expert Neurosurgeon, will provide insights and answers to these common concerns, offering guidance on symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention.

Questions

What is Low back pain?

The disease may be caused by injury to soft tissues such as muscles or ligaments, compression of nerves as seen in spondylolisthesis or disc herniation, bone disorders like osteoarthritis, and malignancy. However, an anatomic diagnosis is elusive in 85% of the time and often nonspecific terminology such as “strain” is used. About 97% of cases of low back pain have a mechanical cause, and almost 4% can be attributed to a disc problem.

How common is Low back pain?

Lifetime prevalence of low back pain is 60–90%. Low back pain is the second most common complaint (after the common cold) encountered by primary care physicians, the practitioners.

Treating patients with low back pain can be particularly frustrating, at times, for the clinicians, and imaging is a common diagnostic tool used to gather information and direct therapy.

What causes lower back pain?

The following structures may be responsible for the origin of back pain:

Bone (spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, osteophytosis)
Ligament (hypertrophy of the spinal ligaments, particularly the ligamentum flavum)
Facet joint (facet hypertrophy, synovial cyst)
Disc (bulging and herniation).

Most often, acquired narrowing of the spinal canal is due to a combination of bone, ligament, joint, and disc disease.

How do I know if my back pain is severe?

If the pain limits your daily routine activity and restrict your activity, better to consult a spine surgeon. Simple pain killers and muscle relaxant medications will help to get rid of symptoms. Bed rest for 3-5 days is usually advised. Prolonged bed rest is not beneficial.

What actually stabilises spine?

The spine is a multiarticular structure composed by motion segments (MS) whose correct function has as prerequisite the stability. The stabilization of the spine is guaranteed by a stabilization system consisting of three closely related subsystems including:

The spinal bones and joints or passive subsystem
The muscles forming the active subsystem
A central control unit, the CNS

How can I prevent lower back pain?

As mentioned above, its second most common complaint. Sitting is new smoking. Due to increased sedentary life styles, prevalence increased. Back strengthening exercises, and physiotherapy will help prevent lower back pain.

What signs of lower back pain require urgent care?

Radiating to pain to legs and weakness of legs with or without bladder or bowel issues are red flag signs for urgent care.

Is surgery needed for lower back pain?

Not all cases require surgery. Most of the time, it requires simple life style modifications and analgesics.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

Clinical examination and imaging are key to diagnose the condition. Examination of motor power, sensory system testing, superficial and deep tendon reflex examination are performed followed by SLRT, McKenzie etc provocative tests. Imaging in the form of X ray, MRI are done to localise the pathology.

Does every low back pain patient require MRI?

After examining clinically, spine specialist will advise you medications. Intractable pain with changes in X ray are usual indications for MRI of the Spine.

Conclusion

Lower back pain can be a debilitating condition, but understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatment options can help you manage and potentially prevent it. Dr. Sudarsan Agarwal has provided valuable answers to some of the most common questions about lower back pain. Remember, if you are experiencing severe or persistent pain, it is essential to seek medical advice promptly. For more information and personalized medical advice, visit HealthHOD.com, where experienced physicians are available to assist you with your health concerns.