Experiencing back pain due to fatigue or posture occasionally is normal. However, if your pain hinders you from enjoying your favorite activities, you may need back pain treatment high point nc. In most cases, back pain responds to rest and over-the-counter medications. If these don’t work, your Portland non-operative orthopaedic specialist at Sports Health Northwest may recommend conservative back pain treatment hot springs ar like physical therapy.
What you should learn about back pain
Back pain remains the most prevalent reason people miss school or work or seek medical attention. Whether your back pain was due to an auto accident or lifting heavy objects, the Sports Health Northwest team has the solution for you. Although more common in older adults, lower back pain can also occur in younger adults and children. Your back consists of complex structures like nerves, muscles, discs, and ligaments, which facilitate most of your movements, making them susceptible to injury and damage. Your back pain may also be due to poor posture, underlying medical conditions, and strain. Structural problems that may lead to back discomfort include abnormal spine curvature, sciatica, bulging discs, ruptured discs, and arthritis.
Symptoms associated with back pain
The signature symptom of back pain is an ache or pain that radiates down your legs Other issues in other parts of your body can also contribute to back pain, depending on the affected nerves. In most cases, the pain resolves without medical intervention. However, if you experience unexpected weight loss, pain traveling down your legs, urinary incontinence, fever, a recent blow, trauma or injury to the back, inflammation, or numbness around your genitals, inform your provider immediately.
Diagnostic techniques for back pain
During your appointment at Sports Health Northwest, the team conducts a thorough physical exam, discusses your symptoms, and reviews your medical history. They may also feel your back to determine the source of your discomfort. If you started experiencing pain and discomfort following an injury or have had the pain for a long period, your provider may order an imaging scan. A CT scan, X-ray, and MRI can provide your physician with more information about the soft tissues in your back. They may also use a bone scan to detect compression fractures and bone tumors and electromyography to monitor the electrical impulses from your nerves.
Available treatment options for back pain
After diagnosis, your provider may suggest beginning treatment with conservative options like physical therapy and medications like NSAIDs. Sometimes the team may recommend muscle relaxants to alleviate your pain. Some experts may also prescribe antidepressants, but researchers are yet to confirm their effectiveness. They may also suggest combining conservative treatments with complementary techniques like acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic, and shiatsu to relax your back muscles, relieving back pain. The specialists at Sports Health Northwest only recommend surgical intervention for severe back disorders or back pain that won’t respond to conservative treatments. If you have a herniated disc, surgery may be an option. Available surgical techniques for back pain include discectomy, fusion, removing a small section of the vertebra, and inserting an artificial disc.
Call the Sports Health Northwest office for more information about back pain treatments, or book your spot online today.
