Low back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, affecting the majority of adults at some point in their lives. It can range from a mild, nagging ache to severe pain that limits your ability to work, exercise, or perform daily activities. At our spine clinic serving Parker, Lone Tree, and the surrounding Denver metro area, we evaluate and treat the full spectrum of low back pain, from acute injuries to chronic conditions.

What Causes Low Back Pain?

Low back pain has many potential causes. The most common include:

Muscle strain and ligament sprain from lifting, twisting, sudden movements, or overuse. This is often called mechanical low back pain or lumbar strain and is the most frequent cause of acute low back pain.

Lumbar disc problems including disc bulges, herniations, and degenerative disc disease. Discs can cause localized back pain or, if a nerve is affected, pain radiating into the leg. [Internal link: Learn more about lumbar radiculopathy]

Facet joint arthritis, also called lumbar spondylosis. The facet joints can develop arthritis over time, causing stiffness and pain that often worsens with extension or prolonged standing.

Lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes leg symptoms with walking and standing. [Internal link: Learn more about lumbar spinal stenosis]

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, where the joint connecting the spine to the pelvis becomes a source of pain. This often causes pain in the lower back and buttock, sometimes radiating into the upper thigh.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis, where one vertebra slips forward on another due to facet joint arthritis and ligament laxity.

Less commonly, low back pain can result from inflammatory conditions, compression fractures, infections, or other systemic causes.

Symptoms

Low back pain presents in many ways depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include:

Aching, stiffness, or sharp pain in the lower back that may be constant or intermittent.

Pain that worsens with certain activities such as bending, lifting, prolonged sitting, or prolonged standing.

Pain that radiates into the buttock, hip, or upper thigh. This is sometimes called referred pain and does not necessarily indicate nerve involvement.

Muscle tightness or spasm in the lower back.

Difficulty standing up straight or transitioning from sitting to standing.

If low back pain is accompanied by leg pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness below the knee, this may indicate nerve involvement and warrants further evaluation.

How Low Back Pain Is Diagnosed

Diagnosis begins with a detailed history and physical examination. Your provider will ask about the onset, location, and character of your pain, as well as activities that make it better or worse. The examination includes assessment of your posture, gait, range of motion, areas of tenderness, and neurologic function in your legs.

Imaging is not always necessary, particularly for recent-onset low back pain without red flag symptoms. When imaging is indicated, X-rays can evaluate alignment, disc height, and arthritic changes. MRI provides detailed information about the discs, nerves, facet joints, and soft tissues.

Treatment Options

Most low back pain improves with conservative treatment. Initial measures include staying active within comfort, avoiding prolonged bed rest, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, and ice or heat application.

Physical therapy is a cornerstone of treatment, focusing on core stabilization, flexibility, body mechanics, and gradual return to activity. A consistent home exercise program is essential for long-term management and prevention of recurrence.

If a specific pain generator is identified, targeted treatments may be helpful. Facet joint injections or medial branch blocks can address pain originating from the facet joints. [Internal link: Learn more about facet joint injections] If facet blocks provide temporary relief, radiofrequency ablation may offer longer-lasting benefit. [Internal link: Learn more about radiofrequency ablation] Sacroiliac joint injections can help diagnose and treat SI joint pain. [Internal link: Learn more about SI joint injections]

For low back pain associated with disc problems or nerve compression, epidural steroid injections may be considered. [Internal link: Learn more about epidural steroid injections]

Surgery is considered when a clear structural problem correlates with symptoms and conservative treatment has failed. Surgical options depend on the underlying diagnosis and may include decompression, fusion, or both.

What to Expect

The majority of acute low back pain episodes improve significantly within four to six weeks with appropriate conservative care. However, recurrence is common. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, good posture, proper lifting mechanics, and an ergonomic workstation can reduce the likelihood of future episodes.

Chronic low back pain, lasting more than three months, may require a more comprehensive approach including ongoing therapy, activity modification, targeted injections, and sometimes multidisciplinary pain management.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are experiencing persistent or severe low back pain, or low back pain with leg symptoms, our spine specialists can help identify the cause and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Contact our office to schedule an evaluation https://neckandbacks.com/#contact