Category: Back Pain

Why does it hurt? Use this evaluator to understand your pain

Nerve Sensitization Symptom Evaluator Author: Shana L Johnson MD, AskDrShana   Signs that pain is related to nerve sensitization (nociplastic pain) includes long-standing symptoms symptoms (> 3 months), spread of symptoms beyond the boundary of the injury area, marked increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, and non-pain symptoms that cause system-wide symptoms like severe fatigue, disrupted…

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How to strengthen your aching low back

Mechanical low back pain is back pain coming from the bones and muscles of the spine. It is very common and increases in frequency with age. Many people start experiencing back pain in their 30’s and 40’s. Fortunately, exercise helps most people with back pain feel better. More specifically, functional exercise that includes core strengthening…

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Lower Back Pain: Facet Joint Pain

Lower back pain arises from multiple areas in the back. Whiles many are familiar with back pain from injured discs, pain may also arise from small joints in the back called the facet joints. Facet joint pain is a cause of lower back pain that is frequently overlooked.

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Lower Back Pain: Pinched Nerves

  A disc herniation in the back is a common cause of lower back pain and pinched nerves. The pain often shoots down the leg and into the toes. The pain is from both nerve compression and inflammation. The symptoms are commonly described as painful numbness and tingling, as well as burning shooting down the…

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Low Back Pain–A Low Impact Exercise Program

Lower back pain is very common and increases in frequency with age. Many people start experiencing back pain in their 30’s and 40’s. Fortunately, exercise helps most people with back pain feel better. More specifically, functional exercise that includes core strengthening and stretching gets people back to the activities they enjoy.

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Lower Back Pain: acute versus chronic

Chronic pain is different from the pain after a new injury for many reasons. Inflammation is no longer the predominant cause of the discomfort. Treatment with opioid pain medications is also less effective because it fails to treat the other contributing factors. Additionally, opioid pain medications carry addiction risks. Their prescribed use contributed to an…

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Lower Back Pain: Spinal Stenosis

Lower Back Pain from Spinal Stenosis A common cause of lower back pain in older adults is spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is commonly caused by arthritis changes in the spine. Arthritis causes narrowing of the spinal canal.  If the spinal canal becomes too narrow the nerves are compressed which results in pain. Then, a unique…

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