Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain may affect nearly everyone at some point during their lives and can be debilitating when left untreated. At Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina, Francis Pecoraro, MD, DAPMR, SAAPMR, offers advanced holistic solutions that relieve lower back pain naturally so you can enjoy your favorite everyday activities. Schedule an appointment with Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC, or request an appointment online today. 

What is lower back pain?

When muscles, bones, or joints in your back and spine are injured or diseased, lower back pain can develop. It’s a feeling of discomfort that may be present as:

• Muscles aches
• Stiffness
• Dull, aching pain
• Sharp or stabbing pain
• Pain with movement
• Reduce mobility 
• Radiating pain
• Discomfort that improves when you recline

Back pain might be mild, moderate, or severe. If discomfort doesn’t subside on its own, is excruciating, or prevents you from staying active, visit Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC for an evaluation. 

What causes low back pain?

If you experience back pain, it might be due to a disease, injury, or age-related wear and tear. Risk factors for developing lower back pain include:

• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Muscle or ligament strains 
• Skeletal irregularities
• Herniated/Ruptured discs
• Improper lifting
• Being overweight
• Degenerative disc disease
• Weak abdominal muscles

Your chance of developing low back pain increases with age. It might result from sciatica, an automobile accident, sports injury, or lifting something heavy.

How is lower back pain diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of lower back pain, Dr. Pecoraro discusses your symptoms and reviews your medical history. 

He completes a physical exam and may use imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRIs, bone scans, and blood tests to diagnose an injury or disease.

What is the treatment for lower back pain?

Your back pain treatment plan depends on the source of the pain symptoms and severity. Dr. Pecoraro might recommend one or more of the following treatments to relieve discomfort.

Lifestyle changes

Using heat and ice therapy, resting your back, weight loss, and wearing a back brace can alleviate pain while an injury heals.

Injections

Steroid or numbing injections can relieve lower back pain without the need to take addictive pain medicines or undergo invasive surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment Dr. Pecoraro uses to reduce nerve activity that sends pain signals to your brain.

Spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation is a minor surgical procedure in which your doctor places a device beneath your skin to deliver electrical impulses, which reduce pain signals to your brain.

Physical therapy

Dr. Pecoraro may recommend physical therapy to help you heal from an injury, reduce chronic pain, and prevent re-injury with strength and flexibility exercises.

Don’t let lower back pain prevent you from staying active. Schedule an appointment with Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC over the phone or request one online today.