Lower Back Pain Relief

Lower back pain is a prevalent condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, making it one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. While it can impact people of all ages, adults between the ages of 30 and 50 experience lower back pain most frequently due to factors like aging, lifestyle habits, obesity, occupational demands and various other causes.

At Houston Methodist, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive care and education to help our patients navigate the challenges of lower back pain and aim for a healthier, more active life.

Identifying Your Type of Lower Back Pain 

Lower back pain is classified as discomfort in the lower back due to an injury. The pain is typically centralized in the area of the back between the bottom of the rib cage and above the buttocks.

Common Types of Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is broadly classified into two types: acute, which is short-lived and often injury-related, and chronic, persisting for 12 weeks or more. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Acute Lower Back Pain

Acute lower back pain is a sudden and intense discomfort in the lower back area typically resulting from a sprain or strain. This type of pain often lasts from a few days to a few weeks.

Common Causes:

• Accidents or falls that have an intense impact on the spine
• Heavy lifting
• Sudden, awkward movements

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Chronic low back pain is a long-lasting discomfort that can vary in intensity and may result from other ongoing medical conditions. It often lasts for 12 weeks or longer.

Common Causes:

• Arthritis
• Herniated disk
• Spinal stenosis
• Inactivity and deconditioning
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis

Signs & Symptoms of Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain comes in various forms, from localized muscle spasms to widespread discomfort affecting the entire lower back region. At times, pain can further radiate down into the legs and be associated with burning, numbness, tingling and cramping. While symptoms can range from mild to severe, it’s important to understand each sign, as recognizing and identifying them early is the first step to effective treatment. Signs and symptoms of lower back pain include:

• Aching and burning pain
• Back stiffness in the morning that lessens with activity
• Dull aching
• Increased pain when lifting or bending
• Mild to severe pain
• Pain that radiates away from the back into the buttocks, legs or hips
• Pain that worsens when standing or walking for any distance
• Sharp or stabbing pain
• Soreness 

How Is Lower Back Pain Diagnosed? 

Diagnosing the source of your low back pain starts with a comprehensive exam. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and perform a physical exam to locate the source of your pain, weakness and other symptoms. In some cases, we may also order imaging, such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI to confirm or rule out other conditions.

Treatment Options

Lower back pain is a complex issue requiring a tailored approach to treatment and prevention. For most cases, initial treatment includes rest, heat or ice therapy and over-the-counter pain medications.

For more severe cases, our comprehensive treatments may include the options below.

Targeted Physical Therapy

Our expert physical therapists tailor therapy to your specific condition, using different exercises to strengthen the muscles that support your lower back, increase flexibility and improve posture.

Injection-Based Treatments

Injection-based treatments, such as epidural steroid injections, use anti-inflammatory medications to target nerve pain in the lower back. These injections can provide temporary relief while the underlying cause of the pain is being addressed.

Prescription Medications

For lower back pain, medications such as oral corticosteroids, muscle relaxers or injections are often used to ease muscle spasms and reduce inflammation around the spinal nerves. In some cases, narcotic pain medication may also be prescribed for short-term relief of severe pain.

Spinal Surgery

While most patients with back pain avoid surgery, our board-certified surgeons are here to help if necessary. Houston Methodist provides minimally invasive spine surgeries, decompressive procedures, fusions, disk replacements and more to address spinal issues with fewer complications. Our surgeons, skilled in the latest innovative procedures, use the latest technologies, including advanced navigation techniques active electrode neuromonitoring, for safer operations. Learn more about our spine treatments and procedures.

Expert Lower Back Pain Care at Houston Methodist

Houston Methodist offers the most advanced health care tools and technologies available to precisely diagnose and treat your condition. We provide comprehensive care for back and neck pain caused by disk injuries, arthritis, spinal tumors and other spinal conditions. 

Our spine specialists are among the most experienced in the nation, with decades of knowledge in treating complex spinal conditions. With expert treatment, most patients can find symptom relief without surgery. We personalize treatment plans to relieve your pain, improve your quality of life and get you back to doing the things you love.