If you experience lower back pain, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with injuries, disorders, diseases, and conditions. At first, you may try home remedies or medication prescribed by your doctor, but sometimes it won’t be enough. At that point, and on your doctor’s recommendation, you might have to look for a spine surgeon.
Four out of five Americans will experience lower back pain. While you can typically treat many forms of lower back pain with rest, some treatment plans require surgical repair. Read on to find out if you need to see a spine surgeon for your lower back pain.
Lower Back Pain Symptoms And Causes
Some common symptoms for people with lower back pain include:
- Consistent pain even after a week of home remedies
- Numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the legs or rear
- Agonizing pain or muscle spasms interfering with daily functions or activities
- Other unexplainable symptoms, including fever, weight loss, bladder problems, or bowel problems
Other severe conditions may also be an underlying cause for lower back pain, namely:
- Strains and sprains (muscles and ligaments)
- Fractures
- Disk problems
- Structural problems
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis (decrease in bone density and strength leading to skeletal fractures)
- Spondylolisthesis (degeneration of the spine)
- Other diseases (spine tumors, kidney stones, etc.)
Try Non-Surgical Treatments First
Surgery is typically the last resort after conservative methods have failed. Before looking for a spine surgeon, ask your doctor if any of the below options are viable.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy may involve exercises for stretching, flexibility, aerobics, and core strengthening. Other activities may include tests for your posture and pain tolerance.
Mindfulness and Meditation
To address your emotional and mental health, cognitive relaxation strategies like mindfulness and meditation may keep you from thinking about your pain.
Diet and Lifestyle Modification
Your diet and lifestyle choices may be the main contributors to your back pain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle (e.g., maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking) can lessen pressure on your spine and overall health.
Injections
Injection-based procedures may lessen or stop your pain but are generally not advisable as long-term solutions.
Alternative Medicine/Treatments
Alternative medicine and its treatment options may benefit you, such as acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation.
Pharmacologic Treatments
Anti-inflammatory drugs and other pain medications can help mitigate back pain but may present unwanted side effects and be ineffective in the long run.
When Should You See A Spine Surgeon?
If you have exhausted all your options for conservative treatment but are still experiencing lower back pain, it may be time for you to see a spine surgeon.
Many diseases can’t be handled by conservative treatment. Some of the more severe lower back conditions that typically require surgery include:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc diseases, like arthritis
- Scoliosis
- Tumors
- Spinal stenosis
- Vertebrae blockages
- Cancer damage
Timely intervention is critical to prevent your condition from worsening, as ignoring your symptoms for too long could lead to further damage. Surgery will, ideally, both prevent your disease from progressing and relieve your symptoms. Minimally invasive spinal surgery can help while also minimizing the amount of time you spend in a hospital. It also uses a relatively small incision compared to traditional surgery, decreasing the chances of scarring.
Spine Surgeon Aurora, CO
At-home remedies may be your most accessible solution to lower back pain. When your symptoms persist and noninvasive treatments have failed, it’s best to see a spine surgeon to identify underlying causes and treat your lower back pain.
At Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery, we provide the most state-of-the-art treatment options performed by talented and experienced board-certified surgeons.
If you are interested in learning more about the procedures we perform, you may contact (303) 790-1800. You may also use our online form to request an appointment today, and we will get back to you within 48 hours. Our services branch across five locations in Lone Tree, Parker, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Aurora.
