Back Pain Specialist

Back Pain Q & A

What causes back pain?

There are three main causes of back pain: acute injury, chronic injury, and disease.

Acute injury

Sudden back pain generally occurs due to an acute injury, like if you fall, are in a motor vehicle accident, twist your back awkwardly, or use a poor lifting technique. The pain is often instant, and you may find you have impaired movement as well. Acute injuries that don’t get the appropriate treatment can develop into chronic back pain.

Chronic injury

Chronic back injuries are those that develop over time because of repetitive movements. For example, if you continually move in a certain way because of the work you do, it could overstrain part of your back. Constant slouching and slumping or having a poor sleeping position can also lead to chronic injury.

Disease

Degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are common causes of back pain. Conditions such as these cause the structure of your vertebrae to change, leading to compression and narrowing of the spinal canal. As there are so many nerves running through the spinal canal and out into your body, slight degeneration of the vertebrae or discs can lead to radiculopathy or pinched nerves.

What should I do if I have back pain?

If you have back pain, whether it’s acute or chronic, avoid doing anything that makes the pain worse until you’ve seen a physician at Orthopedic Specialists. Taking to your bed and hoping the pain goes away isn’t a good idea, as immobility is known to make back problems worse.

If you have mild back pain, gentle heat and careful stretching can help, but it’s always best to find out what’s causing your pain so you don’t risk making the problem worse.

How is back pain treated?

At Orthopedic Specialists, the team uses a conservative approach, starting with anti-inflammatory and pain medications, and treatments such as:

• Heat and cold therapies
• Ultrasound therapy
• Electrical stimulation
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Manipulation therapies
• Trigger point injections
• Epidural steroid injections
• Selective nerve root blocks
• Facet joint injections

These treatments are successful in a majority of cases, but if after six months conservative treatments aren’t helping surgery may be necessary.

The board-certified surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists have extensive experience in all aspects of back surgery, including:

• Laminectomies
• Diskectomies
• Spinal fusion
• Artificial disc replacement
• Minimally invasive lumbar disc surgery

If the pain is originating from the sacroiliac joint that connects your spine to your pelvis, minimally invasive fusion surgery using a bone graft or instrument encourages bone growth over the sacroiliac joint to fuse it in place, reducing pain and instability.  

If you have chronic back pain that’s affecting your daily life, or you’re suffering an acute attack of back pain, call Orthopedic Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.