Lower back pain treatment

Lower back pain is so common that you might think it’s just a natural part of aging. But if you have low back pain, you don’t have to live with it. Multiple treatment options can help you find relief.

For many people, low back pain goes away on its own. But if your symptoms persist, treatment can help you heal and prevent the pain from coming back. At Aurora Health Care, we offer numerous options to help you get back to your favorite activities – free from low back pain.

What are the most common treatments for lower back pain?

“There is a big misconception that the only way to cure back pain and reoccurring back issues is with surgery,” says Dr. Walter Jacobsen, spine surgeon at Aurora Health Care. “In fact, very few situations require surgery, and there are many nonsurgical options that can help people live pain-free.”

Health care providers typically recommend nonsurgical low back pain treatments first. If you try these treatments for several weeks or months and your symptoms don’t improve, you may consider low back surgery.

Chiropractic care

A chiropractor is a health care provider who specializes in nonsurgical treatments for your musculoskeletal system. They typically offer spinal manipulation or spinal mobilization.

Both spinal manipulation and mobilization involve applying gentle pressure to guide your bones and joints into their natural positions. Spinal manipulation involves a rapid movement, while mobilization is usually a slower adjustment. Find out more about chiropractic care.

Massage therapy

A licensed massage therapist helps loosen tight back muscles and ligaments to relieve low back pain. Massage therapy can relax muscles, improve blood circulation and increase endorphins.

Some research even shows that massages help you sleep better and lessen anxiety and depression. Find out more about massage therapy.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy typically involves performing a set of prescribed exercises during in-office appointments and at home between sessions. These exercises help strengthen your core muscles, improve flexibility and increase mobility. A physical therapist can also help you learn how to move properly to avoid future injuries.

We can help improve your flexibility and range of motion in your low back. Read more about orthopedic physical therapy.

Injections

A spine physiatrist injects pain medication or a jelly-like lubricant into injured tissue to help relieve low back pain. Injections can delay the need for surgery or help you avoid it altogether. Types of injections include:

• Epidural steroid injections can help relieve inflammation, especially from conditions like sciatica. Your provider injects a steroid medicine into the epidural space, the area between your spinal bones and spinal cord.
• Nerve blocks can relieve pain by injecting medication directly into nerves that are causing pain. The medication can prevent the nerves from sending out pain signals.
• Trigger point injections can help relax trigger points, areas of tight muscles that contribute to lower back pain. Your provider typically injects a combination of a steroid medication and a local anesthetic (numbing medication).

Nerve stimulators

A spine specialist can also implant a device beneath your skin that sends electrical signals to specific nerves or the spinal cord. These electrical impulses block pain signals. You may have:

• Dorsal root ganglion stimulation: A device sends electrical signals to clusters of nerve fibers called dorsal root ganglion. These nerve fibers send pain signals to your brain. Stimulation aims to replace painful sensations with a tingling or numbing sensation instead.
• Peripheral nerve stimulation: Your provider places small wires (electrodes) near the nerves outside the spinal cord (peripheral nerves). These electrodes send gentle electrical currents to the peripheral nerves to relieve pain.
• Spinal cord stimulation: A spinal cord stimulator sends electrical signals directly to your spinal cord and nerves. These impulses block pain signals from traveling to your brain.

Spine surgery

If there are problems with the structures in your back and nonsurgical treatments don’t provide relief, you may need surgery. We offer advanced spine surgery options, including the latest in minimally invasive surgery.

Spinal surgery treats problems with your spinal bones (vertebrae) or discs, the small spongy pads between your vertebrae. You may have:

• Artificial disc replacement: Your provider removes a damaged or herniated disc and replaces it with a synthetic one.
• Discectomy: The surgeon removes a herniated disc through a small incision in your back.
• Foraminotomy: Your surgeon opens or enlarges the space where your spinal nerves exit your spinal canal to release pressure on the nerves.
• Laminectomy: Your provider removes part of the bony walls around your vertebrae (lamina) and any bone spurs to relieve pressure on your nerves.
• Spinal fusion: The surgeon removes a spinal disc and fuses two or more vertebrae with metal or bone grafts to strengthen and stabilize your spine.
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: Your surgeon inserts a balloon into your vertebra to restore its height (kyphoplasty). Then they inject bone cement into the vertebra (vertebroplasty) to stabilize the bone. These procedures treat compression fractures.

Do I need emergency treatment for back pain?

Low back pain usually isn’t an emergency. But you should seek immediate care or call 911 if you experience any concerning symptoms along with lower back pain, such as:

• Fever or chills
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Sudden loss of sensation in your legs
• Unexplained weight loss

Find out more about when to seek emergency care for back pain.