Lower Back Pain (Lumbar Facet Origin)
Find out more about lower back pain and how Torrance Pain Institute can help you manage your pain, improve your quality of life, and get back to doing the things you enjoy.
So many adults experience lower back pain that it seems to be accepted as part of aging. However, it is important to recognize its exact cause to treat it properly.
What causes lower back pain?
Common causes for lower back pain can be categorized in three different ways:
- Lumbar strain — When a muscle tears or a ligament is sprained from being stretched too far, usually from getting injured while playing sports, lifting heavy objects, or having poor posture over time
- Nerve irritation — When the spinal nerves are irritated from being compressed, such as in herniated discs, bony encroachment, and nerve inflammation caused by a viral infection
- Bone and joint conditions — This includes congenital bone conditions like scoliosis, degenerative conditions like lumbar facet joint wear and tear, fractures from osteoporosis, and inflammatory arthritis
There are other causes of lower back pain such as pregnancy, ovary problems, kidney problems, infections, and tumors.
How can you tell if your lower back pain originates from the lumbar facet?
Lower back pain with a lumbar facet origin generally comes in fits and starts, although the inflamed facet joints do feel tender all throughout.
The lower back becomes stiff, and it hurts more to lean backward than to lean forward. The pain can be felt moving down the buttocks and can even reach the back of the thighs. However, it’s uncommon that the pain goes beyond the knees.
What is the treatment for lower back pain (lumbar facet origin)?
Lower back pain with a lumbar facet origin can be treated with a lumbar medial branch block and RF ablation as well as lumbar facet block, which involve anesthetics and radio frequencies to numb nearby nerves.
If you are suffering from lower back pain with a lumbar facet origin and you’re interested in learning more about lumbar medial branch block and RF ablation or lumbar facet block, call Torrance Pain Institute today.