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Low Back Pain

Summit Primary Care -  - Family Medicine

Summit Primary Care

Family Medicine located in Denver, CO, Colorado Springs, CO, Pueblo, CO & La Junta, CO

Low back pain is the most common pain condition experienced by adults. This condition affects 40% of adults between the ages of 18 and 44 and ranks as one of the top reasons for missing time at work. Summit Primary Care’s experienced team offers comprehensive care for low back pain, including multimodal treatments that ease the pain and help you regain an active lifestyle. To get relief from low back pain, call one of the offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, La Junta, or Pueblo, Colorado, or schedule an appointment online today.

Low Back Pain Q & A

What causes low back pain?

Low back pain often develops due to an acute injury that pulls a muscle or ligament. These soft tissues frequently suffer strains and sprains during athletic activities and everyday actions like twisting, lifting, and stretching.

Repetitive movements also lead to low back pain. This type of overuse injury occurs gradually as frequently repeating the same action slowly tears the muscles supporting your lower back.

As you get older, chronic low back pain often arises from degenerative conditions. The most common age-related problems include:

  • Arthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Slipped vertebra
  • Degenerative disc disease

The conditions in this list usually pinch the spinal nerves, causing neuropathy or nerve damage.

What symptoms accompany low back pain?

When you have low back pain, there’s a good chance that the underlying cause of the pain will also lead to stiffness, muscle spasms, and a limited range of motion. 

When the spinal nerves are pinched, you may feel pain, tingling, or numbness that travels into your legs. The hallmark symptom of sciatica, a pinched sciatic nerve, is intense electric-shock pain that radiates down one leg. In severe cases, nerve damage causes muscle weakness or difficulty moving your foot.

How is low back pain treated?

The team at Summit Primary Care takes a multimodal approach to treating low back pain. Your treatment plan may incorporate:

Medications

Several types of medications can help take the edge off low back pain. Your provider may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, muscle relaxants, or steroids. Topical pain relievers can also give you significant pain relief.

Activity modification

Extended bed rest is the worst thing you can do for low back pain. Spending too much time lying down makes the muscles weak and the pain worse. However, modifying your activities allows you to avoid the movements that trigger back pain while staying active.

Physical medicine

Physical medicine includes passive and active exercises. Exercise is an essential part of your treatment. In the short term, it relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Staying active also promotes long-term pain relief by strengthening your back muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring your range of motion.

Bracing

Some patients find that wearing a brace reduces their pain. A corset-type brace that wraps around your back and stomach also stabilizes your back.

If you need relief from low back pain, call Summit Primary Care or schedule an appointment online today.