Low Back Pain and Sciatica Contributions by ritasharma

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. In particular, your back, hips, and legs and will be tested for strength, flexibility, sensation, and reflexes.

Often, patients with pain may feel an urgent need to have a medical test. It is important to understand that medical tests are not routinely required for back pain and sciatica. Most episodes of acute back pain resolve on their own over several weeks, especially with some natural non-medical treatments. In these cases, the information from an x-ray or MRI may not change the medical plan, and so these tests may be unnecessary. An MRI or x-ray is usually ordered if there is a plan to do a procedure or surgery, based on the result of the images. Studies of medical imaging have demonstrated that MRI and x-ray may be too sensitive. They can often show abnormalities that are not truly significant, such as degenerated discs in individuals who do not even have symptoms. An improper medical test can lead to improper treatment and can greatly increase medical costs. It is important for such tests to be ordered appropriately.

Tests may include:

• X-ray—This test uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones. Back x-rays may show signs of arthritis , degenerative disk disease , osteoporosis , or a tumor.

• CT scan —This type of x-ray uses a computer to generate images of structures inside the body. CT scans may show disc herniations as well as tumors and other lesions.

• MRI scan —This test uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to take pictures of structures inside the body. An MRI can show if a disc has herniated, and if there are signs of scar tissue around a nerve root. The test can detect other abnormalities, such as bony spurs pressing on a nerve root and tumors.

• Blood tests—Blood tests may include a complete blood count and sedimentation rate. Blood tests may be ordered to check for signs of infection, metabolic disease, or inflammation.

• Urine test—These tests check for urinary infection or blood in the urine.

• Nerve conduction study—In this test, an electrical current is passed through a nerve to determine the health or disease of that nerve.

• Electromyography—This test measures the electrical activity of muscle by placing needle electrodes into the muscle. By doing this the doctor can determine if the nerve going to that muscle is functioning normally or if there may be pressure on it.

• Myelography—In this test, a special dye is injected into the spinal canal. X-rays are then taken to see how the dye lines the space in the spinal canal and see if there are disc herniations or other lesions. This test may be ordered before performing back surgery.

• Biopsy—If the cause of your back pain, based on the imaging studies, appears to be the result of a tumor, your physician my take a piece of the tumor (a biopsy) to determine what kind it is and how best to treat it.

Lastly, perhaps the best way to assess how well a treatment is affecting pain is to as the patient how much their level of pain as gone down since the beginning of a certain treatment. Self-reflection like this can be extremely useful and perhaps more empowering than any of the tests written above.

Most back pain is usually localized in the low back. Stress on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine produces strain in these tissues, and this is the usual cause of lower back pain, although there can be other, more serious causes. There exist many treatments for low back pain.

If a nerve is irritated, the pain may extend into the buttock or leg on the affected side, and weakness or numbness may be present. Other symptoms include burning, tingling or a shooting pain down the back of one leg. This is often called “sciatica.” However, the nerve involved is usually a spinal nerve, and not the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is known by many other medical terms, such as lumbosacral radicular pain or radiculopathy.

Sciatic Nerve Pain

More serious symptoms associated with low back pain that may require immediate medical attention include:

• Pain that doesn't subside or worsens with rest
• Pain that is worse when you are reclined
• Pain that is sudden, severe, or that has gotten dramatically worse
• Progressive weakness or numbness in a leg or foot
• Difficulty walking, standing, or moving
• Numbness in the genital or rectal area
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Burning or difficulty with urination
• Fever, unexplained weight loss, or other signs of illness
• If there has been any trauma, fall or impact
• If you have a history of cancer, back pain should be evaluated

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop low back pain or sciatica with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing low back pain or sciatica. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk. Some back pain treatments can be helpful in preventing the onset of low back pain.

Risk factors include:

Sedentary Job or Lifestyle

Muscles that support the back can become weak with lack of exercise.

Occupation

Work that requires the following motions puts additional stress on the back:

• Heavy lifting
• Bending or twisting
• Exposure to vibrations, such as riding in a car or operating heavy machinery

Participating in Strenuous or Contact Sports

Injuries from contact sports or falls can result in back pain.

Cigarette Smoking

Smoking may contribute to degeneration of the discs in the spine.

Obesity

Maintenance of good weight is important for your overall health. While scientific evidence is inconclusive as to how much obesity contributes to back pain in general, extra pounds can increase pressure on the spinal muscles and disks.

Improper Lifting Techniques

Lifting objects using your back muscles instead of the stronger muscles in your legs increases your risk of back injury.

Age

As you grow older, the discs in your back begin to lose water content and degenerate, increasing the risk of disc problems and back pain, especially after age 40. However, even with some disc degeneration seen on MRI or x-rays , most people do not have back pain.