Injuries
Low Back Injuries
Lumbar strain, disc and joint injuries from lifting, falls and repetitive load, with or without leg pain.
What low back injuries is
The lumbar spine absorbs load from nearly every activity. Injury can involve the muscles, the discs, the facet joints, the sacroiliac joints or the nerve roots — frequently more than one at the same time.
Our evaluation is designed to separate those sources rather than treating 'low back pain' as a single diagnosis. That distinction determines whether an epidural, a facet procedure or an SI joint injection is the right next step.
Common symptoms
- Pain across the low back that began with lifting, a fall or a collision
- Spasm and difficulty straightening up
- Pain into the buttock or leg
- Difficulty sitting, driving or sleeping through the night
Common causes
- Lifting with poor mechanics, especially twisting while lifting
- Falls onto the buttocks, back or outstretched hands
- Motor vehicle collisions that load the lumbar spine suddenly
- Cumulative wear from repetitive bending or vibration at work
- Sports involving sudden extension or rotation, such as golf or gymnastics
How it is diagnosed
Low back injuries can involve muscle, disc, facet joint, sacroiliac joint or nerve root, often in combination, so the evaluation is designed to sort out which structures are actually contributing rather than labeling everything simply as strain.
The exam includes range of motion testing, palpation of the facet and SI joints, and a neurological check of the legs. Imaging is selected based on those findings — MRI when nerve involvement is suspected, X-ray when instability or fracture needs to be excluded.
When more than one structure appears involved, diagnostic injections can separate a facet-driven pattern from an SI joint or disc-driven one, which changes which procedure is likely to help.
Treatment options we offer
Which of these applies depends on your examination and, where appropriate, a diagnostic block confirming the source of your low back injuries.
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
- Facet Joint InjectionsSteroid and anesthetic placed inside an arthritic facet joint to confirm the pain source and calm inflammation.
- Sacroiliac Joint InjectionsImage-guided injection into the SI joint to confirm and treat one-sided low back and buttock pain.
- Medication ManagementCareful, monitored use of the right medication class for your pain type, with clear goals and safety oversight.
When to see a specialist
- Low back pain that has not improved after two weeks of rest and activity modification
- Spasm severe enough to limit standing up straight
- Pain radiating into the buttock or leg
- Difficulty sitting through a work shift or a full night's sleep
- New leg weakness, numbness in the groin or saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control, which require same-day emergency evaluation
Common questions
Is a muscle strain different from a disc or facet injury?
Should I stay in bed after a low back injury?
How do you decide which structure is causing my pain?
Can a low back injury heal without surgery?
Related conditions
- Neck InjuriesWhiplash, strain and facet injury of the cervical spine following collisions, falls and sports impacts.
- Work-Related InjuryOccupational spine and joint injuries, with documentation and coordination for return-to-work planning.
- Auto Accident InjuriesPost-collision neck, back and joint pain, including whiplash and delayed-onset symptoms.
- Athletic InjuriesSport and training injuries of the spine and joints, managed with an emphasis on return to activity.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.