One of the most frequent complaints seen by an orthopedic surgeon is low back pain. Most people assume that low back pain is always due to a problem with the spine itself. In most cases it is. Other conditions can cause back pain, including such things as kidney stones, gynecologic disease, as well as disorders of the bowel and circulatory system.

The most common condition of the lower back which causes low back pain is lumbar disk disease. The disk is a cushioning and stabilizing element between the vertebrae (bones) in your spine. In the worst case scenario, a herniated disk can occur (also known as ruptured or slipped disk). In such cases, the disk can cause pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing extreme pain and in rare cases paralysis. Any persistent or severe low back pain should be evaluated by a physician and if the pain is determined to be from the spine, an orthopedic surgeon may be consulted. Dr. Hausmann frequently evaluates and treats patients with low back complaints.