Back pain can leave you unable to walk or perform your daily duties. Although back pain Westfield can go away on its own, sometimes it can linger despite your best efforts like rest. If your back pain does not respond to home remedies and persists for more than a few weeks, it is time to see the doctor.
Causes
Repetitive motions, poor posture, injuries, and certain conditions can cause back pain. The three aspects can affect any structure on your back, causing pain. The different causes include:
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Strained muscles or ligaments
- Radiculopathy
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Fibromyalgia
Symptoms
The most important thing you can do for yourself is to understand the pain you experience. Is it sharp and sudden? Is it in one place, or does it travel to other body parts, like down your legs? Answering the above questions will help your doctor diagnose your pain.
You should watch out for the following common symptoms if you have back pain.
- The pain is severe and does not improve with rest
- It causes weakness, a numbing ad tingling sensation on one or both of your legs
Treatment options
Before your spine specialist can offer you a treatment plan, they must examine your back through touch and other tests like imaging. X-rays and MRI imaging will show any damage to your spine or surrounding tissues and ligaments.
Once the diagnosis is clear, your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan that might include oral medications or other treatment methods, including:
Exercises and physical therapy
You are more likely to experience back pain if you have weak back muscles. Although your spine specialist might recommend exercises and stretching techniques to relieve your back pain, the exercises will also strengthen your back.
Physical therapy for back pain helps to stretch and relax your back muscles while promoting blood flow to the affected area.
PRP injections
Your doctor can recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for back pain if you suffer from a condition like degenerative disc disease. The injections help your body heal by growing new healthy tissues.
Radiofrequency ablation
You can undergo radiofrequency ablation if other conservative treatment methods do not work. It is a minimally invasive treatment method that uses heat to block nerves from transmitting the pain signal. The signal will never reach the intended body part.
Percutaneous discectomy
If conservative techniques prove ineffective, your spine specialist might recommend percutaneous discectomy. The procedure involves puncturing your skin with a sterile needle to remove part of your spinal disc irritating a nerve.
When to seek immediate medical care for back pain
While back pain can be severe, sometimes, it can be accompanied by unusual symptoms like fever, new bladder problems, and digestive issues. If you experience such symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
If you have severe back pain accompanied by fever and other unusual symptoms, visit Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine for treatment. Get qualified and experienced spine specialists to examine your back pain and offer you the most suitable treatment. Call or schedule an appointment online today.
