Lower back pain can be a dull ache that never quite goes away, a sharp pain when you bend, or pain that shoots down your leg. It’s one of the most common reasons people see a doctor, and in most cases it can be treated without surgery. At Innovation Spine Medical, we start by finding out where your pain is coming from so your treatment matches the cause.
Sharp pain when bending, lifting or twisting
Aching or sharp pain in the neck
Pain that’s worse after sitting or standing for a long time
Muscle spasms or tightness
Pain that spreads into the buttock or hip
Pain, numbness or tingling that travels down one leg (sciatica)
Trouble standing up straight after sitting
Lifting, a sudden movement or poor posture can strain the muscles and ligaments that support your spine. This is a common cause of sudden (acute) back pain. Tight muscle knots may respond to trigger point injections.
The discs between your vertebrae act as cushions. When one bulges or tears, it can press on nearby nerves and cause back and leg pain.
Auto Accident injuries →
The small joints at the back of the spine can wear down with age, causing localized pain and stiffness that often worsens when you lean backward.
Wear and tear in the small joints of the neck can cause stiffness, localized pain and headaches.
Discs naturally lose hydration and height over time, which can contribute to chronic back pain.
Risk factors: include age, a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, heavy lifting at work, smoking and previous back injuries.
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis on its own. It describes pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back through the buttock and down the back of the leg. It happens when one of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve is compressed or irritated.
The most common causes are a herniated disc, spinal stenosis and degenerative changes in the spine. Less often, a tight piriformis muscle in the buttock can irritate the nerve.
Many cases of sciatica improve with time and conservative care. When pain lasts or limits your daily life, sciatica treatment may include:
Want to understand sciatica in more depth? Read our guide: Sciatica: Symptoms, Causes and How to Find Relief.
Consider an evaluation if:
Pain lasting three months or more is considered chronic back pain, and it often benefits from a structured treatment plan.
Seek emergency care right away if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, sudden weakness in your legs, or back pain after a serious fall or accident, or with fever or unexplained weight loss.
Call our office if you notice redness, warmth or drainage at an injection site, a fever, pain or swelling that keeps getting worse, or new numbness or weakness.
Seek emergency care right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Your evaluation typically includes:
Low back pain treatment is based on your diagnosis. Your plan may include one or more of the following:
Schedule an evaluation at our Rego Park office to find the source of your pain and discuss your options.
Muscle and ligament strain is among the most common causes, especially for sudden pain. Disc problems and arthritis of the spine are also common, particularly with age.
Most cases can. Physical therapy, injections and other non-surgical treatments are often tried first. Surgery may be considered only in specific situations.
Many episodes of acute low back pain improve within a few weeks. Pain lasting longer than three months is considered chronic and may need a more structured plan.
For most people, staying gently active helps more than bed rest. Your provider can recommend activities that are safe for your condition.
Innovation Spine Medical is located in Rego Park, Queens at 97-01 66th Ave, Rego Park, NY 11374. Call
