When to Seek Medical Treatment for Your Lower Back Pain

Nearly everyone experiences lower back pain at some point. For some people, symptoms become chronic, lasting for at least several months. 

Common and life-altering, low back pain is the leading cause of disability around the world. But not all back pain requires treatment. Understanding when it’s time to seek expert care can prevent complications, from worsening pain to permanent mobility challenges.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, offers effective lower back pain treatments to help restore your comfort and quality of life. 

Here’s a closer look at low back pain, including signs you need medical treatment.

Common lower back pain causes

Anything that damages or strains the ligaments, muscles, bones, or nerves in your lower back can cause bothersome pain. Back pain conditions we frequently see in our office include:

• Arthritis, including osteoarthritis
• Bulging or ruptured discs
• Kidney problems, such as kidney stones and infection
• Osteoporosis
• Muscle spasms
• Poor posture 
• Scoliosis 
• Strained muscles or ligaments

While anyone can develop these conditions, common risk factors include increasing age, a sedentary or highly active lifestyle, improper lifting, and mental health challenges. Stress and smoking also raise your risk.

When to seek medical care for lower back pain

Whenever you experience perplexing or bothersome pain, medical guidance is a wise idea. We recommend scheduling an exam promptly if your lower back pain is:

• Swelling, numbness, shooting, and weakness
• Getting worse
• Long lasting
• Not responding to home care, such as heat or ice therapy
• Severe

While added rest helps in certain circumstances, avoid full bed rest, which can exacerbate back pain. Instead, contact our office to find it out if it’s time to come in. We can also recommend home measures you can try leading up to your appointment.

Getting the care you need

The low back pain treatment we recommend for you will depend on the cause, severity, and your overall health. After an exam, during which you discuss your lifestyle and medical history, we customize a treatment plan.

Your plan may include oral medication, epidural injections, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or a combination of treatments. We reserve surgery for symptoms that fail to respond to conservative care.

You may also benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. Research shows that pairing treatment, like physical therapy, with counseling can keep acute back pain from turning into a disability.

To learn more or get on the path to lower back pain relief, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to help ease your pain and allow you to return to the activities you miss.