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Where Should I Go For Lower Back Pain

Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Lower Back Pain? DONT STRETCH! (What You Should Do Instead)

This is the most common type of back pain. The majority of cases of sudden-onset low back pain are classed as nonspecific. This is the type of back pain that most people will have at some point in their lives. It is called nonspecific because it is usually not clear what is actually causing the pain. In other words, there is no specific problem or disease that can be identified as the cause of the pain. The severity of the pain can vary from mild to severe. This type of back pain is discussed further below.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Strained Back

Symptoms of a strained back include:

  • Stiffness in the lower back with range of motion reduction
  • Muscle spasms at anytime
  • Low back pain that can spread to the buttocks
  • Stiffness and pain that prevents normal posture
  • Pain that lasts for up to two weeks

Other conditions may mimic back strain symptoms. Infection in the lower back caused by osteomyelitis or an abscess can seem like back strain. Also, kidney conditions like kidney stones can cause back pain. Inflammation of the prostate in men and pelvic inflammatory disease in women can also mimic strained back pain. You should visit your doctor if your symptoms do not resolve in a few weeks.

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A Recent Study On Chiropractic Care For Low Back Pain

A 2018 study published in JAMA Network Open is among the latest to weigh in on the pros and cons of chiropractic care for treating low back pain. Researchers enrolled 750 active-duty military personnel who complained of back pain. Half were randomly assigned to receive usual care while the other half received usual care plus up to 12 chiropractic treatments.

After six weeks of treatment, those assigned to receive chiropractic care:

  • reported less pain intensity
  • experienced less disability and more improvement in function
  • reported higher satisfaction with their treatment
  • needed less pain medicine.

While no serious side effects were reported, about 10% of those receiving chiropractic care described adverse effects . Five percent of those receiving usual care had similar complaints.

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When Are Diagnostic Tests For Lower Back Pain Necessary

Many patients do not need X-rays in the first few weeks of pain because their pain will end up resolving. Many more do not need CT scans or MRI imaging, which are overly sensitive and often reveal abnormalities not related to the patients pain. These forms of imaging can be extremely useful, however, if a person has chronic or severe pain, and/or neurological symptoms. Blood tests may be ordered if an infection or tumor is suspected.

Fractures And Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain That Won

are often very difficult pain problems and indicate the possible presence of . In patients with severe osteoporosis, spinal fractures can occur with no early warning and no significant trauma the patient does not have to fall to fracture a vertebrae.

Patients with spinal compression fractures experience spasms and, often, very high pain levels.

In patients with low back pain where the cause is difficult to determine, especially for elderly patients with osteoporosis, a fracture in the sacrum may be the cause of the pain. A standard X-ray or bone scan may not show a sacral fracture. Imaging techniques such as CT scan or MRI can often reveal these fractures.

It is very important that patients with acute lumbar compression fractures be tested for osteoporosis. A bone density study is needed, unless the patient has no other osteoporosis risk factors and has had a very high impact fracture. Studies have shown that many patients with fractures in the U.S. are discharged from hospitals with no plans for management of their bone density problems, which then are left to worsen.

Although pain can be very intense, it is best for patients with lumbar fracture to resume activity as soon as possible. This is especially true for elderly patients, who can too easily become weakened, and develop other complications, if mobility is reduced for too long. may be needed for pain control, for as brief a period as possible.

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Do Get Regular Chiropractic Massages

A massage is perhaps one of the most enjoyable things you can do for your back. Having one performed at your chiropractors office only makes sense. Performed under the direction of the chiropractor, the massage therapist will work on problem areas identified to them by the doctor, and work on restoring range of motion, relieving pain, and restoring tight muscles to a more flexible state. Schedule an appointment for a chiropractic massage at Better Health Alaska.

Massage has a great many benefits. Depending on your unique situation, your chiropractor will direct the therapist to perform a particular type of massage as well as inform them of problem areas you might be having. A chiropractic massage addresses the heart of the matter and focuses on addressing your back pain, not in trying to sell you a facial or pedicure.

What To Do About Severe Lower Back Pain

If you have severe back pain, connect with a doctor as soon as possible.

You may discuss diagnostic tests if a healthcare professional hasnt already identified the cause of your back pain. After you receive a diagnosis from the doctor, youll discuss treatment options.

If your lower back pain is accompanied by a loss of bowel or bladder control, or progressive neurological loss, seek immediate medical attention. You might need emergency surgery.

There are many ways to prevent lower back pain. Taking these measures may help prevent pain altogether or lessen the severity of your symptoms if you manage to get injured.

Prevention may involve:

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When Should I See A Physician If I Am Experiencing Back Pain Due To An Automobile Accident

If youve been involved in a car accident and believe youve been injured, are suffering severe pain, or something doesnt seem right, you should immediately see a doctor. Severe injuries requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment include shattered bones, neck injuries, spinal injuries, chest injuries, and head trauma. Whiplash, in particular, may manifest itself up to 24 hours after an incident.

Your physician will do a physical examination of your back, neck, shoulders, and general health. Additionally, they will advise on how to check for any harm if symptoms develop over time.

If you have a concept of what you should do based on what was taught in high school gym class many years ago, keep in mind that the thinking about how to treat this injury after any trauma has changed dramatically in recent years.

Back discomfort after a vehicle accident or following any kind of trauma should be addressed carefully. If not identified and treated appropriately, it may result in a lifetime of pain and incapacity.

To ensure the quickest recovery possible and protect their legal rights, individuals must understand what to do if they experience back pain following a collision, what types of specific injuries may be causing the pain, and what types of testing and treatment they can anticipate.

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When You Should Go To The Er For Back Pain

How to Relieve Lower Back Pain IN SECONDS

If your back pain is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, head to your closest emergency room because you could be dealing with a more serious condition or injury:

  • Sudden spike in pain, discomfort, weakness or numbness
  • Loss of bladder function
  • Unexplainable weight loss
  • The pain results from a fall or severe blow to your back

If you experience any of these symptoms, its a good idea to talk to your doctor so you can determine next steps for managing pain.

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Should You See A Chiropractor For Low Back Pain

If youve ever seen a doctor for back pain, youre not alone. An estimated 85% of people experience back pain severe enough to see a doctor for at some point in their life. Yet despite how common it is, the precise cause of pain is often unclear. And a single, best treatment for most low back pain is unknown. For these reasons, doctors recommendations tend to vary. “Standard care” includes a balance of rest, stretching and exercise, heat, pain relievers, and time. Some doctors also suggest trying chiropractic care. The good news is that no matter what treatment is recommended, most people with a recent onset of back pain are better within a few weeks often within a few days.

Is It Better To Sit Or Lay Down With Lower Back Pain

Virginia Wells | Answered July 27, 2020

If youre experiencing back pain when sitting, your impulse may be to lie down and then try to slowly progress back to sitting, says Dr. Atlas. But this is the wrong approach. You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move.Mar 1, 2020

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Chronic Low Back Pain Is Serious But Rarely Ominous

Back pain can suck the joy out of your days for week, months, even years. It can definitely be serious even when its not dangerous. I have worked with many truly miserable chronic low back pain patients, and of course the huge economic costs of back pain are cited practically anywhere the subject comes up. But your typical case of chronic low back pain, as nasty as it can be, has never killed anyone.

Ominous is medical jargon for truly scary. Cue Jaws theme music. Low back pain is ominous when it is caused by something that can cripple or kill you. Such causes are rare, fortunately. But awful things do happen, even the best doctors can miss them .

Ordinary back pain can be fierce & awful but not dangerous. Its bark is almost always much louder than its bite.

Lower Back Pain And Cancer

10 Simple Exercises That Ease Lower Back Pain

Cancer involving the lumbar spine is not a common cause of back pain. However, in people who have a prior history of cancer, for example, in the breast or prostate, or who have weight loss or loss of appetite along with back pain cancer needs to be considered.

Night pain can be a clue to cancer in the spine. A benign tumor called osteoid osteoma, which most often affects young people, causes pain that tends to respond well to aspirin. Multiple myeloma is a malignancy that occurs when the plasma cells in the bone marrow begin spreading uncontrollably. It is most common in older people, and can cause pain in many parts of the spine. When tumor or infection are suspected, blood tests may be ordered, including a CBC , sedimentation rate , and protein electrophoresis .

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What Are The Causes Of Lower Back Pain

The vast majority of patients experience back pain because of mechanical reasons. They strain a muscle from heavy lifting or twisting, suffer a sudden jolt in a car accident, experience stress on spinal bones and tissues resulting in a , or suffer from , a potentially painful degeneration of one or more spinal joints. Common causes for low back pain are:

  • mechanical or functional injury
  • active infection

To choose the safest and most effective therapy, doctors need to consider the full spectrum of possible underlying issues, such as inflammatory conditions, fracture, infection, as well as some serious conditions unrelated to the back that radiate pain to the back.

What Type Of Doctor Should I See For Back Pain

This depends on your condition or symptoms. If you have no obvious injury that would explain your pain, you may want to start by seeing a . This is a specialist in physical medicine who can diagnose back pain and determine whether nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy may help. Depending on those findings, a physiatrist may also refer you to a , doctor or other type of back specialist, , for additional discussion.

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Is Lower Right Or Left Back Pain Worrisome

Pain on one side of the back is not particularly more worrisome than central pain. There are three main kinds of one-sided back pain:

  • Back pain that could occur on either side, but just happens to be on the right or the left exclusively. This is very common. Most ordinary back pain dominates one side of the back.
  • Back pain that comes specifically from structures that exist only on one side. This is a small category.
  • Most of the anatomy of the low back and abdomen is symmetrical. Some of the guts are not symmetrical, and only some of those is a plausible cause of back pain on one side. Heres some of the key anatomy to consider:

    The side of the pain on its own doesnt tell us much, and most of the one-sided sources of pain are viscera that usually cause abdominal pain instead of back pain, or in addition to it. In other words, the only reason to worry about right or left lower back pain is if it is otherwise worrisome: if you have other red flags or significant non-back symptoms.

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    Chronic Lower Back Pain

    How to Fix Lower Back Pain off to the Side

    When back pain continues for more than three months, it is considered chronic. Although for most people an episode of back pain is over by that time, in some cases it progresses and can have a major impact on ones ability to function. For some patients, physical therapy with local heat or ice application , combined with a home exercise program and education in proper positions for lifting and other movement techniques can make a major difference. Patients must learn to tolerate a certain degree of pain, or they may allow themselves to become more disabled than necessary. Patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery have had success with graded exercise to work through the pain, gradually increasing the exercise quota at each session so they can learn to tolerate more exercise in spite of the pain, and get back to work and activities. Read more detail on this topic in .

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    Low Back Pain Diagnosis

    Getting diagnosed with a specific cause of low back pain is the first step to getting treatment. If you land in your doctors office hoping for back pain relief, theyll use a variety of diagnostic tools and methods, such as:

    • A thorough medical history including any recent injuries, other diagnoses, family history of disease, and your job, activities and other lifestyle considerations

    • Physical exams, which may include manipulating the painful area or reflex or other neurological tests

    • Electromyography, which measures muscle and nerve function

    • ImagingX-rays can show bone spurs and damage to bone, while CT scans and MRIs can depict damage to soft tissue like discs or ligaments

    Do Seek Out Chiropractic Care

    What is the best treatment for low back pain? Hands down, its chiropractic care! Even if you have severe back pain, comprehensive chiropractic care is your best option for quick pain relief and fast healing. Studies show that chiropractic care is the most effective way to deal with low back pain.

    Your chiropractor will do a thorough exam, take imaging, such as x-rays, and discuss your medical history, as well as the days leading up to this episode of back pain.

    Depending on the results, the doctor will most likely do some very gentle spinal manipulations, order a massage, and possibly use other physical modalities such as:

    • Spinal decompression

    Chiropractors use non-invasive, holistic techniques that allow your body to heal naturally and return your spine to the proper position.

    Can back pain cause a fever? Yes, and it is especially important to see your chiropractor if you have back pain along with a fever. If you have never been to a chiropractor before and feel nervous, you are in for a big surprise. Adjustments dont hurt, and you will feel better almost immediately. You can find out more about what adjustments feel like in this article.

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    Sudden Onset And Wont Go Away

    Again, some people have experienced minor back pain for years. But sometimes it can appear suddenly and rapidly. This is often a bad sign, especially if a couple of days pass and the pain is not any better.Lets say you are at the gym doing some squats, and pull a muscle, or you hurt your back doing yard work. These things can cause your back to hurt a lot even though your back was fine before that incident.If the pain persists for more than a day without showing signs of improving, then come to Emerald Coast Urgent Care.

    How Is Back Pain Treated

    5 ultimate lower back pain

    You can do several things to manage back pain. A conversation with your doctor or physiotherapist can help address any concerns you may have and help you to better understand your treatment. Remember that not all information is trustworthy, so let your healthcare team know about treatments you are considering before you begin them.

    Ways to manage back pain include the following:

    Strong pain medication is not recommended for back pain. Research shows strong pain medication provides little benefit and can cause side effects such as drowsiness, sedation and/or dependence.

    If you have severe back pain and your current medication is not adequately managing it, talk to your doctor about a suitable treatment plan. In some cases, your doctor may suggest an injection that can numb the pain such as an epidural injection, or a surgical procedure, such as a laminectomy to help manage your pain.

    There are many other treatments to manage back pain, but they have not been well proven. These include:

    • herbal medicines
    • heat and cold therapy

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