Types of Back Pain
Almost everyone has experienced back pain at some point in their lives. They may have even miss school, work, or other important engagements because of it. This doesn’t have to be the case. Though many types of back pain resolve themselves after a few weeks’ time, by learning about causes and symptoms, you can immediately begin relieving their pain and make an informed decision about when to seek medical help. Advice from a top spinal surgeon can help.
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain manifests in a variety of ways, but can also be broken down into easy categories for a swifter diagnosis. For symptoms lasting less than six weeks and arriving suddenly, the pain is considered acute. Chronic pain, though less common, is diagnosed if a patient suffers from symptoms for three months or longer.
Causes of back pain are often difficult to determine with tests or scans, some of the most common underlying conditions include muscle strain, arthritis and osteoporosis. Patients are also more likely to experience back pain if they have any of the following risk factors:
Pain Descriptions
When describing symptoms to a medical provider, specify the type of back pain experienced. The three most common phenomena are:
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain manifests in a variety of ways, but can also be broken down into easy categories for a swifter diagnosis. For symptoms lasting less than six weeks and arriving suddenly, the pain is considered acute. Chronic pain, though less common, is diagnosed if a patient suffers from symptoms for three months or longer.
Causes of back pain are often difficult to determine with tests or scans, some of the most common underlying conditions include muscle strain, arthritis and osteoporosis. Patients are also more likely to experience back pain if they have any of the following risk factors:
- Age: People over 40 are more likely to experience back pain associated with aging.
- Excess Weight: Back stress, a cause of back pain, increases as weight increases.
- Improper Lifting: If proper procedures for lifting items over 20 pounds are not followed, back pain caused by muscle strain may occur.
Pain Descriptions
When describing symptoms to a medical provider, specify the type of back pain experienced. The three most common phenomena are:
- Axial Pain
- Radicular Pain
- Referred Pain
Treatment of Back Pain
Once you receive diagnosis of the back pain’s underlying condition, consult with a medical provider to determine the next steps in a treatment plan. Though many symptoms of back pain will relieve themselves over a period of two to four weeks, medications can help to alleviate any discomfort. In other cases where the pain does not resolve itself or is too severe to be treated with self-care and medication, other treatments may be recommended.
Common treatment options for back pain include therapy, medical procedures, or specialist consultation. Aside from physical therapy, patients seeking a more natural approach to healing may find that massage, acupuncture, physical exercise and stretching can alleviate their back pain. Heating pads can also relieve discomfort. If the pain is not helped by these methods, a doctor may recommend either an Epidural steroid shot or an appointment with a top spinal surgeon near you who can discuss other treatment options. Many spinal surgeons in New Jersey can assist their patients not only with surgical procedures, but also with adjusting to a lifestyle that will remedy and not aggravate existing symptoms.
To learn more about back pain, its causes, and treatment options, contact a top spinal surgeon or other medical professional near you.
Once you receive diagnosis of the back pain’s underlying condition, consult with a medical provider to determine the next steps in a treatment plan. Though many symptoms of back pain will relieve themselves over a period of two to four weeks, medications can help to alleviate any discomfort. In other cases where the pain does not resolve itself or is too severe to be treated with self-care and medication, other treatments may be recommended.
Common treatment options for back pain include therapy, medical procedures, or specialist consultation. Aside from physical therapy, patients seeking a more natural approach to healing may find that massage, acupuncture, physical exercise and stretching can alleviate their back pain. Heating pads can also relieve discomfort. If the pain is not helped by these methods, a doctor may recommend either an Epidural steroid shot or an appointment with a top spinal surgeon near you who can discuss other treatment options. Many spinal surgeons in New Jersey can assist their patients not only with surgical procedures, but also with adjusting to a lifestyle that will remedy and not aggravate existing symptoms.
To learn more about back pain, its causes, and treatment options, contact a top spinal surgeon or other medical professional near you.