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The lumbar region of the back consists of the lowermost five vertebrae. Vertebrae are cushioned and separated by cartilage-coated, spinal discs that consist of a gel-like substance.

The spinal cord and the nerves that branch off from it are contained in the spinal canal, which extends through the entire spinal column. The lower back is very prone to pain because it has the job of supporting most of the body’s weight. The spine, nerves and muscles are under a lot of stress and can experience quite a bit of pain.

As a matter of fact, the second most common complaint people bring to their doctor is low back pain. Only the flu brings people to the doctor more often. Back pain is caused by a variety of things. There is not even a single answer for an individual; however, trauma and injury often bring on back pain. Here are a few of the most often experienced causes of low back pain:

A muscle injury is a strain.

Sprains are caused by ligament injury.

Sciatica is caused by a pinched nerve.

Sacroiliitis: Inflamed hip joint.

Disc degeneration caused by disease.

A herniated disc is caused by pressure.

Strains and sprains may happen for a variety of reasons and may be caused by a combination of events. Poor posture, repeated improper lifting, and obesity damage the lower back a little bit at a time over time.

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There are a number of ways to treat a sprain or strain. They include: hot and/or cold packs, ultrasound, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, traction and reduction in which the bones are maneuvered physically, and/or anesthetic or corticosteroid injections. It is very important to gently resume normal activity after a couple of days rest to avoid stiffness.

Conditioning and strengthening of the lower back muscles can help to avoid and treat lower back pain. This can be achieved through a combination of general aerobic exercise and specific strengthening exercises.

If you have tried all of the non-surgical options without relief, you may wish to consider surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common back surgery. It works by limiting the movement in the most painful area of your back.

Back surgery is deemed successful if the pain is reduced. However, it may take over a year to find this out, as recovery can be slow. Complete relief of pain is quite unusual. It is important to discuss all of the alternatives for treatment with your doctor. It may be that surgery is not the right choice for you.

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