Lumbago: Finding the Best Diagnosis
By Debra Rodzinak
Lumbago is just another term for lower back pain. However, the causes of pain in the back are complex and not fully realized. There are two main factors that doctors use as a guide in making an initial diagnosis.
- Type – A patient describing how the pain feels, when the pain happens, and when and how often the pain occurs, helps a doctor understand the type of pain felt.
- Distribution – Where the pain is felt, if it is in one spot or radiates to other parts of the body, and if there is leg pain associated with the back pain, helps a doctor understand where the pain is distributed.
By understanding these two areas, physicians can better evaluate the source of pain and make a more informed diagnosis and treatment plan.
Principles of Pain
It is important to understand that pain does not always equal the extent of damage. For example, severe pain cause by a pulled back muscle can cause extreme pain which leaves a patient unable to walk, whereas a patient can be pain-free with a herniated disc.
This makes diagnosis difficult for doctors. There are numerous anatomical structures in the lower back that can lead to lower back pain or pain in the legs and feet, such as:
- Muscles, ligaments, and tendons referred to as soft tissues
- Bones of the spinal column
- Facet joints that allow spinal movement
- Spinal discs, especially the outer rim of the discs
- Nerves that begin in the lower spinal cord and travel down to the legs and feet
Making diagnosis even more complicated is that a herniated or torn disc can have the same pain as a torn ligament or bruised back muscle. This is why finding an expert in the back and spine area is crucial for finding pain relief.
Chiropractic Treatment
Finding an expert doctor of the spine, like the chiropractors at The Joint, is vital in finding nonsurgical pain relief. At The Joint, patients are treated to a chiropractic treatment program that puts patients in charge of their own care plan. The Joint is reinventing the chiropractic experience on the patient’s terms, not ours. By focusing on the spine and spinal-related issues, the doctors at The Joint are chosen time and time again based on their expert level of care.
With no pesky insurance forms to fill out or appointment times to remember, The Joint makes it easy for those suffering with lumbago to find relief. Drop by The Joint today and begin your journey to a healthier back and spine.