What Doctor Do I Go To For Back Pain

What Doctor Do I Go To For Back Pain

When searching the phrase, what doctor do I go to for back pain, look for a team of doctors who employ pain management techniques, and do not rely on surgery or addictive narcotics as the only solution for chronic back pain. The answer to what doctor do I go to for back pain is an interventional pain doctor. These doctors are board certified and highly-trained in pain medicine and pain management techniques. An interventional pain doctors goal is to provide comprehensive and customized treatment plans for each patient that utilize minimally-invasive, cutting edge techniques to return patients back to their daily activities. Here are some of the interventional pain doctors from Pain Treatment Specialists:

Searching for what doctor do I go to for back pain doesnt have to delay any holiday plans while you are experiencing chronic back pain. Contact the interventional pain doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists to see how our pain doctors conduct pain management through minimally-invasive techniques.

Answers To Common Back Pain Questions

More than eight in 10 people will experience upper, mid, or low back pain at some point in their lives. Low back pain is the most common back pain. In most cases, the pain goes away over time. If your back pain is severe or does not improve, you may need medical care. Here are answers to some common questions about back pain and tips on when to seek help.

Common Symptoms Associated With Back Pain

Symptoms commonly associated with back pain include:

Dull muscle aches

Sharp shooting, burning, or stabbing sensations

Pain that travels down the leg, to the stomach, or buttocks

Pain that worsens with bending, twisting, lifting, standing, or walking

Pain may be in a single area of the back of cover the entire back and

Morning back stiffness that improves with movement.

While certainly rare, back pain can be a sign of something quite different. There have been documented cases of back pain being the only sign of metastatic lung cancer, heart attack, breast cancer, bone marrow cancer, and certain immune diseases. So, it is important to know when to see a doctor for back pain that might be more than just a back injury. If there is back pain with any of the following, call your orthopedic specialist right away:

No apparent injury preceding the pain

Gradual onset of back pain

Symptoms that begin with the back pain but are not related to it and

Sudden symptoms occurring with back pain such as shortness of breath, sweating, or chest or arm pain.

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What If I Dont Want Surgery For My Back Pain

Fortunately, most people with back pain dont need surgery. We usually take a conservative approach first, using a wide variety of nonsurgical spine treatments, said Dr. Guo. For example, I might send you to physical therapy or chiropractic therapy. I might recommend medications such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or some nerve-pain medications. We offer injection therapy, including epidural injections, joint injections, and nerve blocks and ablation if your back pain fails to improve with the conservative treatments. Chances are, one of these approaches will help reduce your back pain and improve your function and quality of life.

Your Pain Extends To Other Body Parts

If you’re experiencing severe back pain that is coupled with pain in other areas such as shooting pain down your leg then you should see a doctor. This could be a sign that you have sciatica, a form of pain that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back and through the buttocks before branching down each leg. This condition usually results from a herniated disk. A doctor will be able to offer a variety of ways that you can relieve this pain.

Learn More:Listen to a podcast on herniated disks.

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You Have Numbness Tingling Or Weakness

Back pain accompanied by sensations of numbness, tingling or weakness could be a sign of nerve irritation or damage. This is especially true if the pain persists after taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Nerve pain is serious and can result in permanent damage or disability if left untreated.

Learn More: Listen to a podcast on pinched nerves.

How To Choose A Pain Specialist

Your doctor can tell you which kind of specialist you need and possibly give you a referral. In choosing a provider, youâll want to find out their general approach to managing pain and how they would treat you specifically. Pick a doctor who:

• Has the training and experience in treating your specific type of pain. Most will have done a pain medicine fellowship, which is training above and beyond a doctorâs training in a specialty.
• Is âboard-certified,â which means they have passed in-depth tests in fields such as anesthesiology, neurology, or physical medicine and rehab
• Has a good reputation in the medical community
• Encourages you to ask questions
• Allows you to disagree

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Signs You Need To Visit An Orthopedic Specialist

If youve already spoken to your primary care physician about your back pain and have not found relief, you could make an appointment to discuss this and request a referral. Or, you could search for an orthopedic specialist directly through your network to save time and money.

Regardless of whether you request a referral or seek help directly, below are the top signs that its time to consult an orthopedic specialist.

Why Does My Back Hurt

There are various causes of back pain, including muscle pain with or without muscles spasms, disc pain, joint pain, or nerve pain. In most cases, these are not harmful or dangerous.

Muscle pain is the most common acute back pain. The period of acute pain is usually limited and may be treated at home or by primary care doctors. Sometimes, these patients may be referred to doctors who specialize in back pain. Some back pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem, like a fracture, infection, or cancer in the spine, said H. Michael Guo, MD, a Duke physiatrist who specializes in spine care. These patients should be seen by spine doctors. Fortunately, spine infections and cancer are very rare and usually only affect people with special risk factors. Spine fractures are also rare and may be associated with thinned spine bones or injuries.

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Holistic And Osteopathic Specialists

In the event of chronic or severe back pain, many individuals tend to prefer to see osteopathic or holistic specialists. These types of doctors and professionals include osteopathic physicians and chiropractic specialists.

Osteopaths are put through the same training and licensing/certification processes that all medical doctors must obtain to practice medicine, but they tend to do additional studies of the musculoskeletal system. They then will prefer to treat pain problems medically, but with an additional emphasis on the potential lifestyle and environmental factors which may be contributing to the pain problem.

Chiropractors are trained in the proper alignment of the spine and may be able to provide some of the most immediate relief to back pain problems. This is done through periodic adjustments and treatments that attempt to maintain alignment and prevent further pain issues.

Types Of Lower Back Pain

The frequency in which lower back pain is experienced will define the type of pain occurring. Lower back pain occurs as either acute or chronic. These two different types of pain may require different treatment methods.

Treatment is shaped by the type of pain felt. But what does it mean? Acute pain implies the pain is experienced for a short amount of time. The pain symptoms may resolve on their own with little medical involvement. Many individuals may find relief from simple home remedies and over the counter medicines.

The pain symptoms can resolve on their own with some rest and care. Chronic pain lasts longer than 12 weeks and can escalate in nature. Chronic lower back pain can progressively limit your mobility in your day-to-day life, greatly impacting your functionality.

This type of chronic pain usually requires seeking assistance from a back pain specialist who can evaluate your symptoms and determine a course of action. Chronic lower back pain may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition or a manifestation of a larger injury.

A skilled lower back pain specialist will review the duration of your back pain and diagnose the cause of your symptoms. They will verify your pain history, associated pain symptoms, and review your medical history to better ascertain which treatment method would be most beneficial.

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You Have Unexplained Weight Loss

If you experience sudden weight loss that canât be explained by diet and lifestyle changes, then you should always pay attention to what your body is telling you. This is especially true when the unexplained weight loss is accompanied by back pain. See your doctor to rule out the possibility of a more severe condition, such as an infection or tumor.

Imaging And Blood Tests

Most people do not need additional testing however, sometimes doctors order tests to rule out a specific cause for your pain or to confirm a cause for your back pain. Your doctor may order the following.

• X-rays only show bones and can help diagnose:
• Broken bones or fractures.
• Changes due to aging.
• Changes in the alignment of the spine.

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Help Which Doctor That Specializes In Back Pain Is Right For Me

There are clearly many different types of doctor that specialize in back pain. All of them focus on different types of back pain, different causes of the pain, and different types of treatment options. These are important factors to consider when you are deciding where to seek medical help. We understand that it can be difficult to try and know where to start, and it may feel frustrating as you try different options, seeking to find one that helps you.

We recommend trying a pain treatment clinic.

A pain treatment clinic is a one-stop shop for understanding and treating back pain. The clinic houses a number of different medical specialists, who are all highly trained in different areas, but all function as pain doctors, to relieve your pain. They will help you to diagnose the cause of your back pain, and work with you to find a treatment option that is likely to help, and suits your preferences.

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Your Pain Is Worse At Certain Times Or In Certain Positions

If your back pain wakes you up in the middle of the night or appears when you’re in certain positions, such as lying down, then this could be a sign of a more serious problem. It could be a sign of a more systematic problem such as an infection, fracture, severe nerve compression or even cancer.

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Types Of Doctors That Might Treat Your Back Pain

Back pain seems to be a problem that plagues so many, so it can be easy to operate under the assumption that treatment is relatively interchangeable. There are actually many different types of doctors that specialize in more specific areas of treatment when it comes to back injury or chronic pain.

It is important that you seek help from the correct type of doctor if you want your pain addressed in the most expedient and thorough fashion. Here is a more in-depth look at the most common types of spine doctors and how they might be able to help you with your pain.

Where To Start With Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints on the planet.

And when someone starts experiencing back pain it can be so frightening that we immediately want an expert that will somehow magically get rid of it.

Unfortunately, there’s just no unicorns and rainbows when it comes to solving back pain.

Realize that most back pain will resolve on its own. What I’m saying here is that your major ache or tweaked out back doesn’t require a specialist in most cases.

Some of the most common causes of acute or sudden back pain include an injury:

• to a muscle or tendon
• to a back ligament
• to a bulging disc .

And the reality is, many of these issues will eventually resolve on their own.

In my personal opinion, the first time someone starts to experience back pain, they should immediately start doing back extension exercises.

I would continue to do back extensions every 3-4 hours throughout the day for at least 3 days.

And if you notice that you’re feeling better, continue for another 1-2 weeks.

But if your low back pain doesn’t improve, then maybe there is something more serious happening.

More serious causes of back pain include:

• a narrowing of the spinal canal
• disc tears or herniations
• severe degenerative disc disease
• spinal infections

So if your back pain doesn’t improve with back extensions and modified activities, then you’d want to consider someone who is qualified to properly assess the situation.

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How To Release The Sciatic Knot And Find Relief From Sciatica Pain

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back, through the buttocks, and down the legs. Sciatica is a condition caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of things, including a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or Piriformis Syndrome. Sciatica can be very painful, and can make it difficult to walk or stand. If you are suffering from sciatica, there are a few things you can do to release the sciatic knot and find relief from the pain.

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When To See A Doctor

If your pain does not get better on its own, make an appointment with your primary care provider. They can prescribe medication, physical therapy or determine if you should see a specialist. Additionally, dont wait several weeks to make an appointment if you have back pain along with:

• Unexpected weight loss
• Weak, painful or numb legs

If you were in an accident or experienced a serious injury, you should also seek medical attention. To make an appointment with Dr. Patel for your back pain, visit our website.

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Emergency Room Healthcare Providers

If you have serious neck or back trauma, you should go to the emergency room. Trauma can include car accidents, falls, or gunshot wounds.

Remember not to move someone with a possible spinal injury. If you’re the one who’s hurt, stay still and tell others not to move you.

Also, go to the ER you have back pain with loss of bowel or bladder control, or your legs get progressively weaker. Those are symptoms of an emergency condition called cauda equina syndrome.

Pain Radiating Beyond Your Back

Pain that spreads from your back to your legs, especially if it extends below your knee, could be a sign ofsciatica. Other symptoms include tingling, numbness, or a general feeling of weakness in your legs. The most common cause of the condition is a pinched nerve in the back, although spinal stenosis, disc herniation, and arthritis may also contribute to sciatic pain.

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Living With Back Pain

Living with back pain can be challenging however, most people find relief within 6 weeks. Remember to follow the recommendations of your health care providers. The following may make it easier for you to manage your pain and recover:

• Add exercises gradually and talk to your doctor about the types of exercises that are best for you. There may be certain activities or exercises you should avoid.
• When sitting for a prolonged period get up, move around, and switch positions frequently.
• Wear comfortable shoes with a low heel.
• When driving long distances, try adding some support behind your back, and stop frequently to stand up and walk around.
• Sleep on your side, and place a small pillow between your knees. If you tend to sleep on your back, place a pillow under your knees. If possible, try to avoid sleeping on your stomach.
• Limit the amount you carry. Instead of carrying more items at once, make a few extra trips to avoid carrying too much weight.