Back pain is one of the common reasons people skip work to seek treatment, and it is one of the leading causes of disability globally. You can take precautions to relieve and prevent back pain. Back pain in West Orange is treated by an experienced team specializing in treating back injuries without surgical intervention.
This article will look at everything you need to know about back pain.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will perform a physical exam on your back and check your ability to sit, stand and walk. Your doctor then asks you about your pain on a scale of zero to ten. This examination helps determine the source of the pain and how long you can move before stopping. They can also rule out more severe causes of back pain.
If there is a condition causing your back pain, your doctor can order the following tests:
X-ray. This test shows images of the alignment of the bones and indicates if you have broken bones or arthritis.
MRI scans. These tests provide images showing herniated disks or problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, nerves, and blood vessels.
Blood tests. They help find out if there is an infection that can be causing back pain.
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain doesn’t develop with a specific cause that can be examined or tested with imaging machines. Conditions that are mostly linked to back pain include:
Bulging or ruptured discs. Discs act as a support between the bones in your spines. The soft tissue in the disc can rupture and press on a nerve. But you can also have back pain without a bulging and ruptured disk.
Muscle or ligament strain. Continuous heavy lifting and sudden movements can strain spinal ligaments and back muscles. If your physical condition is poor, continuous strain can result in painful muscle spasms.
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect your back. In most cases, arthritis in the spine can cause the space around the spinal cord to narrow—this condition is known as spinal stenosis.
How Is Back Pain Treated?
If home remedies do not relieve the pain, your doctor can recommend medication and physical therapy. Back pain gets better after a month of treatment. Over-the-counter pain medications and the use of heat might be a solution to your back pain. Bed rest is discouraged because it slows the recovery process. You should try doing light activities like walking and avoid doing strenuous activities. If medications are slow, physical therapy can be considered a treatment option.
Physical therapy increases your flexibility and strengthens your abdominal and back muscles. Regular use of physical therapy skills can help keep your pain from returning. Your physical therapist will give you guidelines on modifying your posture or movement during a back pain episode.
Back pain is a common condition, and the older you get, the more likely you are to get it. Back pain can be chronic at some point. But with proper treatment, back pain can resolve on its own. And you will need the help of a doctor in the form of prescription medications. The Pain Center of NJ provides you with treatment options that help relieve your back pain. To learn more about back pain, contact them today.