Back pain is a fairly common occurrence among adults and may necessitate a visit to a doctor. During your visit, they will conduct an assessment, ask you questions about your pain, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. The doctors at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics (DBA) work to determine the root cause of your back pain and eliminate it. Here are a few reasons to consult a back doctor for pain:
1. Receive an Accurate Diagnosis
When you visit a back doctor, you remove the guesswork in understanding your pain. A good back doctor will begin by taking a deep dive into your history and lifestyle, which helps determine the source of your pain and identify causes. Back doctors also use imaging techniques, such as X-rays or MRIs, to obtain a more detailed view of the problem area. Some common back pain issues are:
- Herniated Disc: These occur when the inner nucleys of an intervertebral disc pushes through the outer layer, leading to nerve irritation. This causes pain, numbness, and weakness.
- Spinal Fractures: These typically result from repeated stress to the spine, causing significant discomfort and misalignment. X-rays are used to diagnose them accurately.
- Inflamed Nerves: Inflamed nerves cause a pinching or shooting pain, and range from mild to severe. It usually occurs during specific activities or postures.
Not all back pain is the same. Knowing where it originates and how the pain manifests itself will help your back doctor diagnose and treat it effectively. Once they have an understanding of your pain, they can come up with a treatment plan.
2. Get a Personalized Treatment Plan
Following a diagnosis, a doctor uses that information and consults with you on treatment options. For many minor pains, they may recommend rest, ice, and painkillers to help manage the discomfort. If it is severe or persists, then they may prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatories or, in extreme cases, opioid pain killers.
Doctors will typically recommend exercise programs or physical therapy to help improve back strength, which will help relieve pain. Other options include spinal, steroid, or PRP injections to give immediate relief. PRP injections for back pain relief offer a natural, minimally invasive treatment that promotes tissue healing and reduces inflammation by using the body’s own concentrated platelets. If traditional options are not effective, a surgical approach may be necessary.
3. Helps Prevent Future Issues
Not only do back doctors treat your symptoms and root causes, but they also give you guidance on how to prevent them in the future. They can help you identify what triggers your back pain and teach you proper posture for different activities, including sitting, sleeping, and lifting heavy objects. They may also recommend treatments like medial branch blocks or lumbar epidural steroid injections to reduce inflammation in your spine.
Consult a Back Doctor Today
The doctors at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics (DBA) help identify and treat back pain. During your initial visit, they examine you and gather information. They use that to develop a treatment plan, which may include exercise or injections for pain relief. Surgical options are typically a last resort if other options don’t adequately solve the problem. Reach out today to consult a medical professional about your back pain and get relief.