Shamloo Elite Spine & Pain Institute
CONDITIONS / SPINE

Lumbar Spine Pain & Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is extremely common, but persistent or severe pain should not simply be accepted as a normal part of life. When pain continues, repeatedly returns, or begins affecting your ability to work, exercise, or sleep, there may be an underlying condition affecting the lumbar spine.

What is the lumbar spine?

The lumbar spine is the lower portion of the spinal column, consisting of five vertebrae between the thoracic spine and pelvis. It supports much of the body’s weight while allowing us to bend, twist, sit, stand, and move.

The lumbar spine contains discs, joints, nerves, muscles, and other structures that can all contribute to pain. Problems involving any of these may cause localized lower back pain or symptoms that extend into the buttocks, hips, legs, or feet.

Understanding where your symptoms originate is essential, because different lumbar conditions can feel remarkably similar.

Common lumbar spine conditions

Because symptoms overlap, determining the true source of pain requires a careful evaluation rather than relying on symptoms alone.

01
Herniated or bulging discs
When the outer portion of a disc weakens or tears, its inner material can bulge or herniate and irritate nearby spinal nerves — causing lower back pain, sciatica, numbness, tingling, or weakness into the buttock or leg.
02
Degenerative disc disease
Discs naturally lose hydration and flexibility with age. In some people these changes become painful, causing aching or stiffness that worsens with prolonged sitting, standing, or bending.
03
Lumbar spinal stenosis
Narrowing of the spaces within the spine can place pressure on the spinal nerves, causing pain, numbness, weakness, or heaviness — particularly while standing or walking. Sitting or leaning forward may temporarily relieve symptoms.
04
Sciatica & lumbar radiculopathy
Irritation or compression of a nerve root in the lower spine can cause sharp, shooting, burning, or electric pain from the lower back or buttock into the leg. Sciatica describes a pattern of symptoms; radiculopathy refers to the underlying nerve-root condition.
05
Facet joint pain
Arthritis, degeneration, or injury affecting the facet joints can become a source of chronic lower back pain — often worse with standing, bending backward, twisting, or prolonged activity.
06
Other sources of lumbar pain
Lower back pain can also result from muscle or ligament injuries, spinal arthritis, trauma, structural abnormalities, and other conditions affecting the spine or surrounding tissues.

When should you see a lumbar spine specialist?

Not every episode of lower back pain requires specialized care. However, an evaluation may be appropriate when pain:

— Persists despite conservative treatment
— Continues to return or progressively worsens
— Travels into the buttocks or legs
— Causes numbness or tingling
— Is accompanied by weakness
— Interferes with sleep, work, exercise, or daily activities
— Makes standing or walking difficult
— Develops after an accident or injury
— Has not improved with treatments that previously helped

If you experience significant or progressive weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the groin or saddle area, seek urgent medical attention.

How lumbar spine pain is diagnosed

Dr. Shamloo begins by listening carefully to your symptoms and medical history and performing a detailed physical examination. Depending on your presentation, diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans may be recommended to evaluate the bones, discs, joints, and nerves of the lumbar spine.

In some cases, specialized diagnostic procedures may also help determine which structure is contributing to your pain.

The goal is to move beyond simply identifying where you hurt and determine why you hurt.

A personalized approach to lumbar spine care

There is no single treatment that is appropriate for every cause of lower back pain. Once the underlying condition has been identified, Dr. Shamloo can discuss the range of options that may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis.

Depending on the condition, care may include conservative management, targeted interventional procedures, regenerative medicine, neuromodulation, or minimally invasive spine procedures.

The goal is to match the treatment to the condition — not the other way around.