Back Pain

What are the common causes of back pain?

Back pain can stem from your muscles, connective tissue, spine, or nerves. As a result of the variety of potential pain origination points, there is a wide array of factors that contribute to back pain. For example, some of the conditions that trigger back pain include:

• Arthritis
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoporosis
• Scoliosis
• Neuropathy 

However, you could also have back pain from an injury such as a muscle strain or tear. You could also suffer from back pain because of chronic poor posture. 

When should I talk to a doctor about back pain?

If you have back pain that develops suddenly and is so severe that it impairs your movement, or if you sustain an injury to your back, you should make an appointment at Republic Spine and Pain right away.

In most cases, mild to moderate back pain subsides on its own with a couple of days of rest and at-home care including ice, heat, and over-the-counter painkillers. If your back pain doesn’t get better — or gets worse — call Republic Spine and Pain to schedule an appointment. 

How is the cause of back pain diagnosed?

Republic Spine and Pain takes an integrative approach. The doctors evaluate your overall health and lifestyle while working to identify the cause of your back pain. 

Your doctor talks to you about your symptoms and lifestyle while feeling your spine for abnormalities and asking you to walk around the office and move through some gentle stretches. They also offer diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and electromyography to collect more details about your back pain and its cause. 

How is back pain treated?

Your doctor creates a customized, multidisciplinary treatment plan to relieve your pain, heal the condition causing it, and restore your quality of life. Depending on your needs, your back pain program may include:

• Epidural injections 
• Trigger point injections
• Sympathetic ganglion blocks
• Selective nerve root blocks
• Facet joint or medial branch nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency nerve ablation
• Discography
• Intrathecal injections
• Spinal infusions
• Percutaneous disc decompression
• Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty
• Spinal cord stimulator
• Vertiflex® Superion®
• Physical therapy

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle modifications and complementary therapies. For example, you may find that massage therapy and acupuncture provide pain relief and help improve your overall well-being. 

Don’t let back pain disrupt your life, call Republic Spine and Pain or make an appointment online today.