The percentage of patients that come into our office seeking help to relieve low back pain is higher than for all other areas of the back combined. But this is not surprising. If you bear in mind that as many as 60-90% of people are suffering from low back pain at some point in their lives. Although most of the time the pain is acute. In about 30% of cases patients develop chronic low back pain which requires treatment. Because it is such common condition, which our spine surgeon in Fort Lauderdale is dealing with on a daily basis, we decided to create a useful guide that will provide patients suffering from low back pain with basic information on the topic. Here are 4 things you need to know about LBP:
Of course there are many different ways low back pain can be categorized. The lower back – also known as lumbar spine – is subjected to a lot of fatigue due to its function. It’s main job is to provide support for the whole body. It is thanks to the lumbar spine that we are able to move the upper body. It allows us to bend, twist and perform other everyday activities. Most acute low back pain is a result of an injury, however, it can also be caused by other less obvious factors, such as a herniated disc. Specifically, lower back pain can be subdivided into three categories on the basis of how long the pain lasts::
Low Back Pain can also be categorized on the basis of the cause of the pain. In this case, we divide it into:
Other common causes of back pain include spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, lumbar stenosis, compression fractures, sagittal malalignment, and – rarely – infections, tumors, or inflammatory conditions.
A proper diagnosis of what causes the pain is essential prior to being able to prescribe a treatment plan. The doctor will usually start with a detailed questioning of the patient’s symptoms and history. For example, you can expect your spine surgeon in Fort Lauderdale to ask you questions such as: where do you feel the pain? How can you describe it (dull, sharp, sudden, radiating, etc.)? Does it get worse during specific times or positions? Have you had any injuries in the past? Your doctor may also ask you about your daily habits, your diet, or your everyday activities. This will give him a general idea about the source of pain and allow him to proceed with proper examination. Other diagnostic methods include:
Dr. Hepler is a leading orthopedic spine surgeon in Fort Lauderdale with fellowship training in both adult and pediatric spine surgery. He has a subspecialty interest in complex spine reconstruction. That includes scoliosis and spondylolisthesis, but also the treatment of all spine conditions, including disc herniations, lumbar radiculopathy, discogenic disc disease, lumbar and cervical stenosis, traumatic fractures, and osteoporotic fractures. He is also an expert in back surgery and spinal stenosis treatment in Palm Beach County. His experience allows him to make the right diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment to relieve your Low Back Pain.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hepler and get rid of that stubborn back pain, don’t hesitate to call us. We encourage you to visit our website to find out more about Dr. Hepler and our modern, patient-friendly facility. We look forward to seeing you soon!
This article was written on behalf of the practice by RedCastle Services. RedCastle specializes in Online Marketing for Doctors, including Medical SEO, SEO for doctors, and Medical Website Design. Contact RedCastle Services today to find out how we can help your practice increase its number of online patient referrals.
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