Treatment and Management of Spinal Pain

Your spine is a sensitive part of your body and a crucial sector of your skeleton. Your skeleton is used to keep your skin and organs in place. On the other hand, the spine controls and coordinates most bodily movements. Therefore pain and discomfort in areas around the spine may hinder movement and disable you from conducting your daily activities. Dr. Mahan Ostadian of Republic Spine & Pain is a renowned physician and pain management specialist with vast experience in this area. Find out more about these treatment plans and management.

What is Spinal Back Pain?

Spinal back pain is a leading cause of disability, with it being the most typical reason people miss work or visit the doctor. However, there are several methods for back pain relief or prevention. When prevention is not applicable, proper body mechanics and simple home remedies may put you back healthy and functioning in a few weeks. Surgery is not usually needed to deal with back spinal pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Back Pain

There are various back pain ranges, from mild muscle aching to a burning, shooting, or stabbing sensation. This pain may get worse when twisting, bending, standing, lifting, walking, or radiating down your leg.

Self-care and home treatment typically treat back pain within several weeks. You should see a physician if the back pain:

  •         It is extreme and does not improve with rest
  •         Persists for several weeks
  •         Spreads down one or both legs mostly when the pain extends below the knee
  •         It comes together with unexplained weight loss

Though rarely, the back pain may lead to severe medical conditions. Seek immediate medical care if your back pain:

  •         It is accompanied by fever
  •         Results in new bladder or bowel problems
  •         It is due to a fall or a blow to your back or any other injury

Back pain may develop without a cause making your doctor conduct tests to identify the cause. This may be due to spinal injury or degeneration due to conditions like:

  •         Ruptured or bulging disks
  •         Ligament or muscle strain
  •         Osteoporosis
  •         Arthritis

The various risk factors that may increase the chances of the occurrence of back pain include:

  •         Lack of exercise
  •         Increasing age
  •         Some diseases like cancer or arthritis
  •         Excess weight
  •         Psychological conditions
  •         Improper lifting
  •         Smoking

Prevention of the occurrence of back pain may involve:

  •         Quit smoking
  •         Build muscle flexibility and strength
  •         Exercise
  •         Maintain a healthy weight

Diagnosis will involve your doctor conducting a physical exam with identification of a specific condition requiring more tests such as:

  •         CT or MRI scans
  •         X-ray
  •         Bone scans
  •         Blood tests
  •         Nerve studies

Treatment may involve medications like:

  •         Muscle relaxants
  •         Over the counter pain relievers
  •         Narcotics
  •         Topical pain relievers
  •         Antidepressants
  •         Surgery if other treatment plans do not work

Lower back pain is typically associated with signs of getting older or performing strenuous activities. However, if this pain persists, it is advisable to seek medical care through our website or call our offices in Austin, TX.