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Low Back Pain

Eastside Family Health Center -  - Internal Medicine

Eastside Family Health Center

Internal Medicine & Sports Medicine located in Kirkland, WA

Low back pain and other musculoskeletal issues can be uncomfortable and seriously interfere with daily life. It is among the most often reported pain in the entire world. There are natural alternatives to relieve your pain; Frank Marinkovich, MD, and his expert staff at Kirkland, Washington's Eastside Family Health Center provide all-inclusive pain management treatments.

 

Low Back Pain Q&A

What is low back pain?

There are three types of low back pain: acute, subacute, and chronic. Fortunately, back pain improves or goes away with the proper care and therapy.

 

What are the risk factors for low back pain?

  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Poor physical activity
  • Obesity
  • Smoking and drinking
  • Pregnancy

 

What is etiology?

  • Strains and sprains
  • Herniated discs
  • Disc degeneration
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Infection in spine
  • Abnormal shape of the spine
  • Inflammatory back pain
  • Sacroiliac joint pain
  • Posture-related back pain, such as bending, standing, or sitting

 

How is low back pain diagnosed?

  • Complete medical and physical history.
  • Blood test to rule out inflammatory markers, infection, cancer, or/and arthritis
  • Bone scan to detect and monitor fractures, bone disorders, and infection
  • A diagnostic imaging procedure, such as an MRI, may be needed if a problem is observed with the bone (vertebrae), soft tissue (spinal cord), nerves, and/or discs.
  • X-ray to rule out abnormalities in the low back such as wearing of cartilages and bones; and narrowing of vertebrae
  • Computerized Tomography (CT) helios to rule out any soft tissue injuries such as disc rupture, spinal stenosis, or tumors

 

What are the treatment options for low back pain?

Step 1

  • Self-care management
  • Hot and cold packs
  • Exercise to strengthen the core or abdominal muscles
  • Re-integration of everyday activities as soon as possible to ease pain and avoidance of strict bed rest

Step 2

Alternative techniques

  • TENS is a wearable, battery-operated medical device that uses electrodes on the skin over the painful area to produce electrical impulses intended to reduce or alter the experience of pain.
  • Physical therapy supports the low back, enhances flexibility and mobility, and encourages appropriate posture. It is frequently combined with other interventions.
  • Using hands to move, adjust, massage, or stimulate the spine and surrounding tissues is known as spinal manipulation or spinal mobilization. Manipulation involves a swift action that the person receiving the treatment has little control over. Mobilization entails more deliberate adjustments.

 

Step 3

Injections

  • Trigger point injections include PRP, local anesthetic, and/or corticosteroid drug into the trigger point(s) to lessen or relieve pain.
  • Peptide injections help diminish degenerative processes in the early stages of the lumbar disease and relieve pain.
  • Epidural steroid injections into the lumbar area of the back are given to treat low back pain and sciatica associated with inflammation.