Low back or lumbar pain is the second most common reason that patients visit the doctor, only behind the common cold. The pain may be secondary to a trauma or injury, but frequently is not related to any specific event. As with many conditions of the spine, the pain can be significant. Joint inflammation, arthritis, a bad disc irritating a nerve, or muscle strain are all common causes. Non-surgical treatment options include, but are not limited to, trigger point injections, epidurals, selective nerve blocks, facet injections, sacroiliac joint injections, intradiscal steroid injections, spinal cord stimulators, and physical therapy. An MRI, CT, or EMG may be necessary to better determine the source of pain. The pain may be in the middle of the back, on both sides, or isolated to one side of the back. It can also radiate into the buttocks, hip, and groin regions. In some patients, the pain will radiate into the legs and individuals may also experience numbness and/or weakness. The reason for this is that all of the nerves in the legs come from the back. As a result, any issue with the low back can potentially affect the legs.
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