The overwhelming majority of us will experience low back pain one time or another, and if it lasts more than 3 months it is considered chronic. Chronic low back pain often presents as pain in the low back, hips, buttocks and/or legs. The most common causes include arthritis or “wear-and-tear” of the spine, spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal, disc issues such as a bulging or herniated disc, and myofascial pain syndrome, a condition characterized by muscle pain due to tight bands of irritable muscle.
Nonsurgical treatments include physical rehabilitation, meditation and mindfulness, lifestyle modifications, medications and injections.