Know the Facts, Risks of Lower Back Pain

Find Answers, Relief at Kayal Pain & Spine Center

“Oh, my aching (lower) back!” If you haven’t uttered these words yourself, the odds are high that you’ve heard someone you love say them. It’s estimated that 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lives. It’s a major reason why workers call off sick and the most common reason for job-related disabilities.

At Kayal Pain & Spine Center, our skilled team of specialists understands lower back pain. We offer the most comprehensive and state-of-the-art pain management care available in Bergen County and beyond.

Lower back pain doesn’t discriminate. It affects both men and women equally. It can vary in degree from a dull, persistent ache to sharp, sudden stabs of pain that can be crippling. It can happen suddenly during an accident, when lifting something heavy or when shifting your body quickly. Or it can happen slowly over time through wear and tear or age-related changes to your spine. Inactivity is another cause of lower back pain.

Types, Causes and Risks

There are three types of lower back pain. Acute pain (usually lasts only a few days or a few weeks), subacute pain (lasts four to 12 weeks) and chronic pain (lasts 12 weeks or longer). The experts at Kayal Pain & Spine Center have the skills and experience to diagnose, treat and manage your lower back pain. They will pinpoint the cause and set you on the path to healing relief quickly and compassionately. Our team insists on a patient-focused approach to care and treatment. We’ll answer all of your questions and work closely with you to explain every step of your treatment plan.

Low back pain is caused by a number of things, including spondylosis, degeneration of the spine caused by normal wear and tear on the bones, discs and joints as you age. Most lower back pain is mechanical, including sprains and strains, disc degeneration, herniated discs, ruptured discs, radiculopathy, sciatica, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. It can also be caused by infections, tumors, arthritis and other inflammatory joint diseases, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, kidney stones and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

There are certain risk factors that make you more susceptible to lower back pain. They include:

1. Age: Most people are between age 30 and 50 when they experience back pain for the first time. It is more common as we age.
2. Employment: If your job requires pushing, pulling or lifting heavy objects, you are more prone to lower back pain. Surprisingly, you also can be more vulnerable to back pain if you sit behind a desk all day.
3. Fitness: You reduce your risk of back pain when you’re active and fit. Low-impact aerobics help keep your intervertebral discs healthy.
4. Weight gain: If you’re obese or have gained a large amount of weight quickly, you put stress on your back that can result in lower back pain.
5. Mental health: Anxiety, depression and other mental health problems can exacerbate pain and your perception of its severity. Stress also can result in muscle tension, which can affect your back.
6. Genetics: Certain genetic disorders can cause back pain.
7. Backpacks and children: An overloaded backpack can strain children’s backs and cause muscle fatigue. Your child’s backpack should not weigh more than 15 to 20 percent of his or her body weight, according to the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

At Kayal Pain & Spine Center, we have advanced diagnostic treatment tools, including discography and discogram, electromyography and nerve conduction studies, medial branch blocks and selective nerve blocks. We also offer the innovative treatments and the latest surgical procedures.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

When you experience lower back pain or any spinal or neck problem, our expert team has the skills and experience to diagnose, treat and help you manage your pain. In addition to pain management care in Bergen County  and beyond, we specialize in a variety of treatments and surgical techniques to allow you to live the active lifestyle you deserve. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about us, call 844.777.0910 or contact us on the web.