Lower back pain treatment

Lower back pain (lumbago) is extremely common. It’s so common that you may think it’s just part of getting older. But you don’t have to put up with low back pain. There are multiple effective treatment options.

For many people, lower back pain goes away with rest and at-home management. But if your symptoms continue, treatment can help you heal and decrease the chances of pain returning. At Advocate Health Care, we offer a full range of options to help you get back to your favorite activities free from lower back pain.

What are the best lower back pain treatments?

Health care providers typically advise that you try nonsurgical low back pain treatments first. If you use these treatments for several weeks or months with no improvement, you may consider lower back surgery.

“Patients can sometimes improve low back pain with core strengthening exercises, stretching, physical therapy and chiropractic treatment,” says Dr. Jonathan Citow, a neurosurgeon at Advocate Condell Medical Center. “However, when patients have seen little to no improvement with the nondrug, nonsurgical options, or if they have significant radicular leg pain, numbness or weakness, they should seek a consultation with a neurosurgeon.”

Massage therapy

A licensed massage therapist can help loosen tight back muscles and ligaments to relieve pain. Massage therapy can improve blood circulation, relax muscles and boost endorphins. Some research even shows that getting massages helps you sleep better and decreases depression and anxiety.

Physical therapy

During physical therapy, you perform a set of prescribed exercises both during in-office visits and at home between appointments. The exercises are specially designed to help strengthen your core muscles, increase mobility and improve flexibility. A physical therapist can also teach you how to move during your daily activities to prevent future injury.

We can help improve your range of motion and flexibility in your lower back. Read more about physical therapy.

Injections

A spine specialist injects a jelly-like lubricant or pain medication into injured back tissue to help relieve pain. Injections may delay spine surgery or help you avoid it altogether. Types of injections include:

• Epidural steroid injections can help reduce inflammation, especially from conditions like sciatica. A spine specialist injects a steroid medication into the space between your spinal bones and spinal cord (epidural space).
• Nerve blocks may relieve pain by preventing nerves from sending out pain signals. Your provider injects medication directly into nerves that are causing pain.
• Trigger point injections help relax trigger points, areas of tightness that lead to lower back pain. The injection typically combines a steroid medication and a local anesthetic (numbing medication).

Nerve stimulators

A spine specialist may recommend implanting a device beneath your skin that sends electrical signals to the spinal cord or specific nerves. The electrical signals help decrease pain signals. You may have:

• Peripheral nerve stimulation: Your provider places small wires (electrodes) near specific peripheral nerves, the nerves outside the spinal cord. These electrodes send low-frequency electrical currents to the peripheral nerves.
• Spinal cord stimulation: This device sends electrical signals directly to your spinal cord and nerves. The electrical impulses block pain signals from reaching your brain.

Spine surgery

If there are problems with the structures in your back and nonsurgical treatments don’t bring relief, you may be a candidate for surgery. We are a high-volume health system for spine surgery and offer innovative options, including the latest in minimally invasive surgery. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons perform more complex spine surgeries than any other health system in Illinois.

We’re proud to be one of the first health systems in the country to offer Mazor X robotic technology. Mazor X is a guidance system that assists spine surgeons in planning and operating. Robotic techniques improve accuracy, precision and efficiency, and the surgeon controls the robotic system throughout the entire procedure.

Often, spinal surgery treats problems with your spinal bones (vertebrae) or discs, the small spongy pads between your vertebrae. You may have:

• Artificial disc replacement: Your provider removes a damaged or herniated disc and replaces it with a synthetic disc.
• Discectomy: The surgeon removes a herniated disc through a small incision in your back.
• Foraminotomy: Your surgeon releases pressure on spinal nerves by enlarging or opening the space where your spinal nerves exit your spinal canal.
• Laminectomy: Your provider relieves pressure on spinal nerves by removing part of the bony walls around your vertebrae (lamina), along with any bone spurs.
• Spinal fusion: Your surgeon strengthens and stabilizes your spine by removing a spinal disc and fusing two or more vertebrae with metal or bone grafts.
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: Your surgeon inserts a balloon into your vertebra to restore its height (kyphoplasty). Then they inject bone cement into the vertebra (vertebroplasty) to stabilize it. These procedures treat compression fractures.

Do I need emergency treatment for back pain?

Most of the time, lower back pain isn’t an emergency. But you should seek emergency care or call 911 if you experience any red-flag symptoms along with lower back pain, such as:

• Chills or fever
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Sudden loss of sensation in your lower body
• Unexplained weight loss

Find out more about when to seek emergency care for back pain.