Low back pain can originate from a variety of sources such as muscle trauma, spinal conditions such as disc disease, or conditions related to the nervous system.
It is important for Dr. Siddiqi to determine the exact cause of a patient's low back pain due to the complex composition of the human spine and the variety of conditions that can give rise to the pain. Some of these causes are listed below:
Mechanical Disorders
As a result of the natural wear and tear that occurs with aging, certain parts of the spine start to degenerate and wear out with age. This process makes some of the anatomic structures of the spine, including the bones, intervertebral discs, ligaments and muscles less flexible and less resistant to injury.
Inflammatory & Infectious Disorders
Though infections and inflammation of the spine are rare, if they are neglected for a period of time, or if there is a delay in diagnosis, they can become a significant source of pain and disability. Bone and joint infections anywhere in the body can be crippling and life threatening.
Tumors
Tumors of the spine and spinal cord are relatively uncommon. Spinal cord tumors can originate either in the spinal cord or elsewhere in the body. The challenge is to determine how to evaluate back pain with the goal of specifically excluding a tumor as the cause of the pain. Luckily, most back pain is not due to a tumor.
Trauma
It is impossible to predict how badly someone's spine has been injured before he or she is evaluated by a doctor. This is why anyone who is involved in an accident that could have damaged his or her back is treated as if a spinal injury is present. Most people are familiar with the "backboards" that paramedics use to transport accident victims, but they are unaware of how important these devices are in keeping the spine stable while they are taken to the hospital.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Each year in the United Sates, there will be approximately 50,000 new spinal cord injuries caused by accidents. A spinal cord injury occurs when the cord itself is crushed, stretched or torn as a result of the accident.
Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries can not be reversed or cured by modern medicine. More than half of these injuries involve the cervical spine, and most of them happen to young men. Research is being conducted on ways to minimize spinal injuries, such as designing cars for better safety, improving protective gear like football helmets and educating people about the dangers of certain activities.
There is also a lot of research being done on how to care for someone immediately after they have had a spinal cord injury, and also what kind of rehabilitation is best for them.
In addition, depression, anxiety, frustration, stress and other psychological states can contribute to the onset of back pain. These conditions can also prolong the period of pain related to the lower back.
Dr. Siddiqi is experienced in treating patients with all of the above symptoms and causes of lower back pain and offers patients a complete diagnostic evaluation to determine the best course of treatment and to rule out any major sources of pain, such as spinal tumors.
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