Low Back Pain

Pain and stiffness in the lower back affects 80% of Americans at some point in their lives and is one of the most common reasons people miss work. In many cases, lower back pain is caused by a strain and can be eased by simple treatments, such as:

• Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications.
• A cold compress immediately after the injury to reduce swelling.
• Heat on the back several days after the injury to help relax muscles.
• A short period of bed rest to allow muscles to heal.
• Gentle exercises to stretch and strengthen back muscles.
Learn more about low back pain.

In other cases, such as a herniated disk, surgery may be needed to relieve chronic back pain. For some situations, new minimally-invasive procedures like spinal microdiskectomy can correct spine problems through a very small incision.

Interested in learning more about minimally-invasive back surgery and other options for treating lower back pain? Watch a live webcast of a spinal microdiskectomy from St. Mary’s Hospital on Tuesday, May 13, from 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Dean neurosurgeons from the Dean & St. Mary’s Spine Center will perform the surgery while providing narration and answering viewer questions. Visit the St. Mary's webcast page for more details.