Lumbar Spine Specialist

Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group

Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine located in Carmel, NY, Newburgh, NY, Mt. Kisco, NY, Fishkill, NY, & Danbury, CT

Back pain is a leading cause of doctor visits, lost work, and disability. Fortunately, lumbar spine problems like low back pain have a wide variety of conservative and surgical treatment options. At Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group the highly experienced board-certified orthopaedic surgeons are ready to see you at four New York locations in Carmel, Newburgh, Mount Kisco, and Fishkill, and another office in Danbury, Connecticut. Book your visit by calling the nearest office or requesting an appointment online.

Lumbar Spine Q & A

What is the lumbar spine?

Your lumbar spine spans the five vertebrae in the lower part of your spinal column. These vertebrae start around the ribcage (lumbar 1 or L1) and end at your pelvis (L5), with L2, L3, and L4 between them.

Lumbar discs — small circular shock absorbers — lie between each vertebra, and tiny connectors called facet joints link the vertebrae together. Your lumbar spine also contains five pairs of nerves, each playing an important role in your body.

The lumbar spine is the most common area for low back pain today. The thoracic spine (mid-back) and cervical spine (neck) are directly above the lumbar spine.

What causes lumbar spine pain?

Low back pain has many possible causes, including:

Congenital problems

Congenital problems causing lumbar spine pain can include scoliosis and kyphosis.

Injury

Lumbar spine injuries can occur with overuse or trauma. Sports injuries and falls are two frequent forms of lumbar spine injury.

Degenerative conditions

Degenerative conditions that can cause lumbar spine pain include osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylitis.

Nerve problems or damage

Lumbar spine nerve damage can occur in several forms, including sciatica and spinal stenosis.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, which features progressive bone loss, increases your risk of fractures and lumbar spine pain.

There are also other possible causes of lumbar pain, including kidney stones, spinal tumors, and infections. Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group has digital X-ray and MRI on-site to quickly find the cause of your lumbar pain.

What is the treatment for lumbar spine conditions?

Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group treats lumbar spine conditions case-by-case. In many situations, nonoperative care eases pain and helps restore function. Some conservative options include:

Physical therapy
Back brace
Custom orthotics
Steroid injections
Electrical stimulation

If nonoperative care doesn’t relieve your lumbar spine issues, you may need surgery.

Board-certified orthopaedic surgeons at Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group expertly perform procedures such as discectomy, laminectomy, laminotomy, and spinal fusion to restore damaged areas in your lumbar spine.

Whenever possible, the surgeons use a minimally invasive approach to make your recovery as short and easy as possible.

Surgeons perform these procedures in the Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Groups dedicated surgery facility, the Orthopaedic & Specialty Surgery Center in Danbury, Connecticut.

Are you suffering from low back pain, stiffness, or other issues? Find out the cause of your lumbar spine pain — and what you can do about it. Call the Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group office nearest you, or request an appointment online today.