Low back pain can develop because of long-term wear and tear, or as the result of an acute injury. In some cases, what starts as an acute episode of low back pain becomes a chronic problem, especially if you don't get the correct treatment.

Your spine is made up of bones called vertebrae that have small joints, and spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae.

Supporting and stabilizing the bones are ligaments and muscles, and your spinal cord contains the roots of many nerve networks that spread out from the spinal canal into your body.

Any of these structures can cause pain if they get worn or damaged. As well as pain, you might experience some loss of function in your legs, numbness, or sensations of tingling, prickling, or burning.

Acute back pain often clears up within a matter of weeks, whereas chronic back pain lasts for months and sometimes years.

There are many potential causes for back pain, most of which relate to your musculoskeletal system. The most common causes of low back pain include:

• Damaged ligaments

• Pulled muscles

• Osteoporosis

• Arthritis

• Sciatica

• Degenerative disc disease

• Herniated or bulging discs

• Spinal stenosis

It's also possible for back pain to develop because of internal organ problems; for example, a kidney infection can cause severe low back pain. To ensure you get the right treatment for your back pain, you should call Associated Orthopedists of Detroit PC for advice.

The right treatment for low back pain relies on getting an accurate diagnosis. The team at Associated Orthopedists of Detroit PC combine their clinical expertise and experience with state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies to ensure they know exactly what's causing your pain.

Many low back problems get better with conservative treatment approaches like physical therapy and manipulation, or you may need an epidural steroid injection if your pain is preventing you from exercising.

Some conditions that cause low back pain may also benefit from the use of regenerative medicine techniques like platelet-rich plasma or stem cell therapy.

In some cases, these approaches don't provide sufficient relief from low back pain, in which case your doctor at Associated Orthopedists of Detroit PC can go through the options for back surgery.

The precise surgical procedure you need depends on the cause of your low back pain. Widely used surgeries for chronic low back pain that isn't responding to other therapies include:

• Partial vertebra elimination

• Discectomy or microdiscectomy

• Artificial disc implantation

• Facetectomy

• Foraminotomy

• Laminectomy or laminotomy

• Spinal fusion

If it isn't possible to control the pain with surgery, there are also implantable pain control devices such as a spinal cord stimulator that can help you manage your pain.

Don't let low back pain reduce your quality of life. Call Associated Orthopedists of Detroit PC today, or book an appointment online.