A summary of causes of back pain and ways we help alleviate it.
More then eight our of ten people will experience upper, middle, or lower back pain at any point in their lives. Low back pain is the most common type of back pain. In most cases, the back pain will go away after time but in some cases it doesn’t. If your back pain is severe and does not improve, please seek medical care immediately. Here are answers to common questions about back pain and reasons Dr. Maklan can help today.
There are various causes of back pain, including muscle pain, muscles spasms, disc pain, joint pain, or nerve pain. In most cases these types of pain are not harmful or dangerous.
“Musle pain is the most common of the acute back pain. The period of acute lower back pain is usually limited and may be treated at home or by most primary care doctors. In most cases where they are not resolved patients are referred to doctors who specialize in back pain such as us here at the Deerfield Injury Center. Some back pain can be a symptom of more serious issues like fractures, infections, or cancers in the spine” said Dr. David Maklan owner of Deerfield Injury Center “All patients that sustain prolonged back pain should be seen by a chiropractor at least and getting some imaging done to ensure that the spine isn’t broken. Spine infections and cancers are very rare and usually only affect people with special risk factors or conditions. Spine fractures are also rare and can often be associated with thinned bones or other conditions and injuries.”
When your back pain first starts to hurt, taking the recommended amount of an over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen and apply ice to the affected area for 24 to 48 hours. You can apply heat after 48 hours but if you do it before then it will most likely inflame the painful area. You may need to take it easy for a while but “it’s probably best depending on the injury to move as much as you can tolerate because you’ll become stiff from inactivity. Avoiding bed rest should be everyone's priority regardless of an injury or not our bodies are meant to move” said Dr. Maklan.
If your back pain last longer then two weeks and keeps you from doing the things you love or just your normal activities see your general practitioner. If you pain is severe, you should see a doctor sooner rather then later. You should seek urgent medical care if you have these signs and symptoms:
Also, always be cautious if you have special risks factors for cancer, infection, or fractures that may affect the spine.
If you back pain is from a recent strain from picking something up or a mild sport injury, your primary care doctor can most likely help you. If the pain is severe, prolonged, and accompanied by other symptoms that are mentioned above it is most certainly time to seek medical help from a specialist. Start with someone who specializes in nonsurgical treatment for neck, middle, or lower back pain. This can of course start with our office here at Deerfield Injury Center and Dr. Maklan. We can evaluate your condition through physical examinations and xrays while also offering appropriate treatment to help alleviate your pain. Depending on your circumstances or injury we can refer you out to back specialist that can help with pain management or in severe cases back surgery.
“Before starting any treatments of your back problem we attain a medical history and perform a detailed physical examination” said Dr. Maklan. “That includes checking for multiple signs and symptoms such as tenderness, spine range of motion, arm or leg strength, sensation, and reflexes. Depending on the symptoms you present with, we may perform provocative tests trying to identify what triggers the pain. We order imaging studies such as X-rays here at the office or MRI’s and CT scans which we refer out for. We use all of the information gather to help identify the causes of back pain and begin treatment either chiropractically or with the use of physical therapy.
Fortunately for most people with back pain surgery is not required. “ When it comes to treatment we always try to stay on the conservative side. Yes we will help with some of the non surgical spine treatments here in an hour before referring you to some more advanced care providers. Chances are that if the two previously mentioned methods don't work then injections will be recommended and those treatments should help alleviate your back pain and improve your spine function and quality of life.
Experience relief and rejuvenation with personalized chiropractic care. Book now and start your journey to better health. 954-422-1865
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