Back Pain

Symptoms:

  • Aches or sharp pain felt anywhere in the middle or lower back.
  • Stiffness that makes it difficult to stand upright or to bend.
  • A pain that gets worse when standing, sitting for long periods or lifting something.
  • Tight or spasm muscles in the back area.
  • At times, pain radiates into the hips or legs.

Causes:

  • Strain in muscles or ligaments from lifting, twisting or an abrupt action.
  • Bad posture, especially while sitting at your desk.
  • Degeneration in the discs and joints due to aging.
  • Herniated or bulged disc putting pressure on other tissue.
  • Weak core muscles that cannot offer enough support to the spine.

Risk Factors:

  • Sedentary activities or job that requires lifting of heavy objects.
  • Smoking, decreasing the blood supply to the discs.
  • Older people and those with past injury to their back.

Ways to Manage:

  • Sufficient rest during flares with gradual physical activity.
  • Short rest during flare-ups, followed by gradual return to activity.
  • Hot or cold therapy in order to relieve pain and muscle spasm.
  • Over-the-counter pain medications according to your doctor’s recommendations.
  • Posture correction when sitting, standing, and lifting.
  • Physical therapy for developing supportive muscles.

Exercise Recommendation:

  • Low-impact walking to keep the spine active.
  • Pelvic tilt exercises for relieving tension from the lower back.
  • Cat-cow stretch for improving the spine flexibility.
  • Bridge exercises for strengthening the buttocks and lower back.
  • Core-strengthening exercises like planks (in case of acute pain resolution).

Surgical Options:

Most back pain can be treated without surgical intervention. Surgery is considered only after a thorough clinical evaluation and imaging by Dr. Sameer Nagpal, and typically when there is chronic, serious pain related to a structural problem (herniated disc, instability, etc.).

  • Microdiscectomy for a herniated disc that pinches the nerve.
  • Spinal decompression for relieving pressure on the nerves/spinal cord.
  • Spinal fusion for spine instability.

Dr. Sameer Nagpal specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques for these procedures, ensuring less pain and faster recovery.

If your back pain persists beyond a few weeks, or comes with numbness or weakness, book a consultation with Dr. Sameer Nagpal for a proper evaluation.