Lower Back Pain

It’s estimated that 31 million Americans will cope with lower back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is one of the leading causes for missed work, and it’s the second most common reason for doctor visits.

• Overuse injuries
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Strains caused by poor body mechanics, especially when lifting
• Osteoarthritis
• Fractures of the vertebrae, which are often caused by sharp blows from automobile accidents or even falling and landing on the back or buttocks
• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs

When you visit Icon Medical Centers in Miami, we’ll perform tests to determine the cause of your discomfort. X-rays, MRIs and CT scans are common tools that can give us a lot of information about what is going on. Even if the results don’t show damage to the intervertebral discs, we are able to rule out several possible causes of your discomfort and focus on injuries to the muscles.

Once the source of your lower back pain has been uncovered, a spine doctor in our spine center in Miami will advise you of your treatment options. Treatment options for bulging disc in lower back may include conservative treatments, including chiropractic manipulation and exercises. In more severe cases, surgical treatments may be considered, including minimally invasive spine surgery.

If surgical intervention is required, Icon Medical Centers works with some of the best spine doctors in Miami and spine surgeons in South Florida. Your health is important to us and we make sure you are always in good hands.

Lower back injuries can often cause symptoms of radiating pain down the lower extremities, often referred to as sciatica. Sometimes, mild disc herniations or disc bulges can cause compression of the spinal nerves. The symptoms of sciatica vary from person to person and may include leg pain, numbness or tingling in the legs, or weakness in the lower extremities.

Sciatica can be caused by many factors, but almost always involve the lumbar spinal canal. A back injury caused by a motor vehicle accident or sports-related accident may result in a disc bulge, paracentral herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and compression of the nerve roots. The symptoms of disc bulges or herniations can be anywhere from nothing at all to severe sharp pains.

If you are experiencing shooting pain down the legs, contact Icon Medical Centers today for a physical exam from our specialists. Even a bulging disc with no pain can eventually cause numbness or tingling down the legs.

These treatments can be effective in relieving lower back pain. If you are interested in pursuing one of these options, discuss it with your Miami Icon Medical Centers doctor.

If you’ve been coping with lower back pain for awhile or if your pain is the result of an accident or injury, physical therapy may be necessary to strengthen your core muscles and help your back recover. We are happy to provide a referral to a physical therapist in the Miami area.

Depending on the cause of your pain or if other therapies are not effective, surgery may be an option, and your Miami doctor will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this step.

Medication can help you get through the day while you are recovering. Some medications that are useful for lower back pain include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, like Ibuprofen or Naproxen, and muscle relaxants, which are only available by prescription. Your Miami doctor will discuss your symptoms with you to determine which medication is right for you.

Lower back pain can develop suddenly or over time. If you have been dealing with your condition for a while, it may take a little time to strengthen your muscles and restore your lower back; however, your Miami doctor will find ways to make you more comfortable in the meantime.

If your back pain came on suddenly as the result of an injury, rest along with heat and ice therapy can be very effective in reducing swelling and easing discomfort. Once a day or two has passed, however, it’s important that you try to get back into your normal routine. The longer you stay immobile, the weaker your muscles will get, which can create a chronic issue.

Call Icon Medical Centers’ Miami office today to schedule an appointment with one of our excellent doctors and make your lower back pain a thing of the past.