Where in Dubai
Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees patients with lower back pain at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Tell him about your work: long hours sitting or driving, lifting at work, and the sport you play all matter. If you have had an X-ray or MRI elsewhere, bring the images and the report.
What is lower back pain (lumbar spine)?
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor, and it usually gets better within a few weeks. The lower back, or lumbar spine, is five large bones with discs between them, carrying most of the body's weight. Pain often comes from strained muscles or joints after lifting, bending or a sudden movement. Sometimes a disc bulges and presses on a nerve, sending pain, tingling or numbness down the leg, which is called sciatica. In older adults, wear of the discs and joints can narrow the space around the nerves (spinal stenosis). Most lower back pain is treated without surgery.
Common signs
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back, making it hard to bend, sit or stand up straight.
- Pain that spreads into the buttock or down one leg, sometimes to the foot.
- Tingling, pins and needles or numbness in the leg or foot.
- Leg pain or heaviness when walking that eases when you sit or bend forward.
- Back pain after lifting, a fall or a sports injury.
How Dr. Subhash approaches it
Dr. Subhash is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who sees patients with lower back pain. He starts by finding the cause: the muscles and joints, a disc pressing on a nerve, narrowing around the nerves, or a bone problem. He checks the strength, feeling and reflexes in your legs, because these show whether a nerve is involved. Most people get better by staying active, with exercises and pain relief, and he explains each step and what to expect.
What to expect
Consultation
He asks how the pain started, what makes it worse, whether it goes down your leg, and about your work and activity.
Examination
He checks how your back moves and tests the strength, feeling and reflexes in your legs.
Scans if needed
Most back pain needs no scan. An X-ray or MRI is used when a nerve seems pressed, after an injury, or when pain does not settle.
Treatment plan
Staying active, exercises to strengthen the back and core, safer ways to lift and sit, and pain relief. A physiotherapist can guide the exercises.
Review
He checks your progress and changes the plan if the pain is not settling, or if leg symptoms appear or get worse.
Getting better
Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.
- Most lower back pain improves within a few weeks.
- Staying as active as you can helps you recover faster than bed rest.
- Sciatica usually gets better over a few weeks to a few months.
- Regular exercise, a healthy weight and lifting with bent knees help stop it coming back.
Risks to know about
- Long bed rest makes back pain last longer, so it is not advised.
When to book a visit
Book a visit if lower back pain has not improved after a few weeks, or keeps coming back. Book sooner if pain, tingling or numbness spreads down your leg, you have a fever, or you are losing weight without trying. Go to emergency care straight away if you have numbness around your bottom or genitals, new trouble passing urine or controlling your bladder or bowels, or weakness or numbness in both legs. Do not drive yourself.
Where to book
Dr. Subhash sees patients at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, in north-east Dubai. The clinic is at Shop No. 4, next to the Grand Excelsior Hotel.
Grand Infinity Medical Center
Shop No. 4, next to Grand Excelsior Hotel, Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
DirectionsCall +971 58 599 7460WhatsApp
Questions patients ask
Can I keep working with lower back pain?
Usually yes, and staying at work often helps recovery. You may need to change how you sit or lift for a while. Ask him what to ease off and for how long.
Should I rest in bed with back pain?
No. Short rests are fine, but staying as active as you can, with gentle walking and normal activities, helps the back recover faster than lying in bed.
What is sciatica?
Pain that runs from the lower back or buttock down the leg, often with tingling or numbness. It happens when a nerve root in the lower back is pressed or irritated, most often by a bulging disc. It usually settles in a few weeks to a few months.
Do I need an MRI for lower back pain?
Not usually. Most back pain gets better without a scan. An MRI helps when a nerve seems pressed, when there are warning signs, or when pain does not improve with treatment.
Book an appointment
His nurse answers the phone and WhatsApp.