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Who Should I See For Lower Back Pain

Pain That Keeps You Up At Night

Should you See a Doctor for Lower Back Pain??? | SHOULD YOU??? SERIES #2

Back pain that keeps you up at night, or gets worse when you rest, is generally not life-threatening. That said, it’s best to get it checked, especially when accompanied by fever.

Back or neck pain with fever may be a sign of an infection such as meningitis. Infections can get serious, fast, so don’t delay that call to your doctor prompt diagnosis and treatment may save your life.

When To Get Medical Help And Advice

Nine out of 10 people find their lower back pain improves within four to six weeks. You may find that you feel better sooner than this, in a few weeks. But contact your GP if the pain is severe, getting worse over time or isnt improving after four to six weeks. Also, contact your GP urgently if you feel unwell or have a high temperature. And if you have had cancer or osteoporosis, your GP may want to check that there isnt a more serious cause.

Seek medical attention right away if you:

  • have numbness or tingling around your bottom or genitals
  • cant control when you pee or cant go at all
  • lose control of your bowels
  • are unsteady when you walk, your legs feel weak or your foot is dropping or dragging

These may be signs that the nerves at the bottom of your spine are being squashed. This is called cauda equina syndrome and needs urgent treatment.

But What About Lower Back Pain That Lasts Longer Than 2 Or 3 Weeksdoes That Indicate The Need For An X

Not always. Rarely is subacute or chronic back pain an indication of an urgent lumbar spine condition. In fact, less than 1% of people with lower back pain are diagnosed by their primary care doctor with a condition that may require spine surgerysuch as cauda equina syndrome, spinal infection or metastatic spinal cancer.1

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Which Lifestyle Factors Contribute To Lower Back Pain

There are three major lifestyle factors that may affect your chances of developing lower back pain:

  • Multiple studies have established a link between smoking and lower back pain. Smoking raises inflammation inside the body and hinders the body from healing itself.
  • Obesity is also associated with several types of chronic pain, including lower back pain. In people with high body mass index , the stress on the spine increases, contributing to even more wear and tear.
  • Your level of physical activity can also play a role in your lower back health. While a sedentary lifestyle could increase your risk of developing lower back pain, so can excessive or strenuous physical activity. Check with your doctor if you are unsure about your ideal level of physical activity.

Lower Back Pain: What Could It Be

Should I See A Chiropractor For Lower Back Pain?

Do you have lower back pain? You are not alone. Anyone can experience lower back pain at any time, even if you dont have a prior injury or any of the risk factors. It is not always serious and can often get better on its own. But in some cases pain is your bodys way of telling you that something isnt right.

Learn more about lower back pain and what causes it from rehabilitation physician Akhil Chhatre, M.D., who specializes in back pain in the Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

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Can Further Bouts Of Back Pain Be Prevented

Evidence suggests that the best way to prevent bouts of low back pain is simply to keep active and to exercise regularly. This means general fitness exercise such as walking, running, swimming, etc. There is no firm evidence to say that any particular back strengthening exercises are more useful to prevent back pain than simply keeping fit and active. It is also sensible to be back-aware. For example, do not lift objects when you are in an awkward twisting posture.

What Are Some Common Lower Back Pain Causes

The causes of lower back pain are sometimes viewed as being mechanical, organic or idiopathic. Sometimes spinal conditions are congenital or acquired meaning the disorder develops later in life.

  • Mechanical lower back pain is often triggered by spinal movement and involves spinal structures, such as the facet joints, intervertebral discs, vertebral bodies , ligaments, muscles or soft tissues.
  • Organic lower back pain is attributed to disease, such as spinal cancer.
  • Idiopathic refers to an unknown cause.

These are some of the things your doctor might look for or rule out when you schedule a visit for back pain.

The common symptoms of lower back pain.

Sprains and strains. Ligament sprains and muscle or tendon strains are the most common causes of lower back pain. Theyre often related to overuse.

Degenerative disc disease. While the name sounds worrisome, it just means you have a damaged disc causing pain. Over time, discs become thinner and flatter due to wear and tear. That leaves them less able to cushion the vertebrae and more likely to tear .

Herniated disc. The protective covering on intervertebral discs can tear over time. When this happens, the soft inner disc tissue may push through the outer layer. A disc that bulges or slips out of place is known as a herniated disc, bulging disc, or slipped disc. The herniation may press on nerve roots, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in the area that the nerve serves

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Low Back Pain Fact Sheet

If you have had lower back pain, you are not alone. Back pain is one of most common reasons people see a doctor or miss days at work. Even school-age children can have back pain.

Back pain can range in intensity from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp or shooting pain. It can begin suddenly as a result of an accident or by lifting something heavy, or it can develop over time as we age. Getting too little exercise followed by a strenuous workout also can cause back pain.

There are two types of back pain:

  • Acute, or short-term back pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. Most low back pain is acute. It tends to resolve on its own within a few days with self-care and there is no residual loss of function. In some cases a few months are required for the symptoms to disappear.
  • Chronic back pain is defined as pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been treated. About 20 percent of people affected by acute low back pain develop chronic low back pain with persistent symptoms at one year. Even if pain persists, it does not always mean there is a medically serious underlying cause or one that can be easily identified and treated. In some cases, treatment successfully relieves chronic low back pain, but in other cases pain continues despite medical and surgical treatment.

How Can Back Pain Be Prevented

When should I see my doctor about lower back pain? – Dr. Kodlady Surendra Shetty

In most cases, you can prevent back pain by making changes to your lifestyle.

Doing exercise helps to keep your back flexible and strong. Exercise improves your posture and helps your muscles to support your spine. Exercises that can help prevent back pain include:

  • low-impact aerobic exercise
  • strengthening exercises, such as lifting weights, climbing stairs or hiking hills
  • stretching exercises, such as Pilates and yoga

Maintaining a good posture is important when you sit at home, in your workplace, or in your car. Try not to slouch, and use equipment that supports your back, such as a lumbar support or footstool if you need.

Keeping a healthy weight is also important. Excess fat can strain your back and lead to back pain, sciatica and inflammation.

Practise safe lifting in your home or workplace. Whenever you pick up a heavy load, squat down, hold the object close to your body, and lift with your legs.

In addition:

  • Quit smoking Smoking increases your chances of developing persistent back pain.
  • Relax Learning relaxation techniques and mindfulness can help to reduce stress and muscle tension in your back.
  • Avoid high heels wearing high heels can place strain on your back.

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Back Sprain Or Strain

Symptoms typically include:

  • Muscle spasms, cramping, and stiffness.
  • Pain in the back and sometimes in the buttock. It may come on quickly or gradually. It most often occurs in episodes. Certain movements make it worse, and doing light activities such as walking makes it feel better. The worst pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours and may be followed by days or weeks of less severe pain.

Chiropractic Care For Back Pain

It may take several types of tests including x-rays, MRIs, and blood tests, to determine the exact cause of your back pain.

And you may need more than one expert managing your back pain.

It really just depends on your specific situation and the amount of damage that has occurred in your spine.

But for back sprains, strains, and even herniated discs, a visit to your local chiropractor may be all it takes to start feeling better.

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Back Pain Treatment In Westlake And Avon Ohio

Orthopaedic Associates, Inc. has an excellent orthopedic team comprised of 13 board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons who deeply care for our patients. We take your treatment seriously and will stop at nothing to ensure you find relief.

If you are ready to say goodbye to back pain, call us today at 892-1440 to make an appointment. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you in our Westlake and Avon clinics!

How Does A Chiropractor Help Relieve Back Pain

Reasons You Should See a Chiropractor for Sciatica

When you see a chiropractor for your back pain, they will complete a thorough examination to diagnose the specific cause of your pain.

Once a diagnosis has been made, the chiropractor will be able to put together a specialized treatment plan that will effectively treat your back pain conditions.

The chiropractor may utilize a combination of spinal adjustments, manual therapies, and therapeutic exercises to help you heal quickly and optimally.

Some of the spinal manipulation techniques may include:

  • Flexion-Distraction Technique is a gentle, hands-on manipulation that involves a pumping action on the intervertebral disc instead of direct force.
  • Instrument-Assisted Manipulation uses a hand-held instrument to allow the chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.
  • Specific Spinal Manipulation helps restore joint movement using a gentle thrusting technique.

With these techniques and therapies, our chiropractors are able to restore mobility to the joints and help to relieve back pain symptoms.

The goal of your chiropractor is to not only treat your back pain but the person as a whole.

We might educate you on nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals in addition to treating your back pain.

With chiropractic care, you will also learn how to prevent your back pain from getting worse as well as how to prevent back pain in the future.

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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.

How Long Does Lower Back Pain Usually Last

Lower back pain can be categorized as acute, subacute or chronic. Acute episodes of lower back pain usually last from a few days to 4 weeks and subacute lower back pain lasts between 4 to 12 weeks. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, about 20 percent of people with acute back pain go on to develop chronic back paindefined as pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer. Even in these cases, there are many different treatment options to help relieve lower back pain symptoms.

When your back is really killing you, you might worry something is seriously wrong. The same goes for back pain that seems unending. The good news is that while back pain is a major inconvenience, it is rarely an urgent medical issue. In fact, most of the time you dont have to treat it. Back pain usually resolves on its own unless you have a major underlying issue.

Read Also: What Causes Lower Back Pain On Your Left Side

When To Start Moving Again

After about one to three days of rest, start to move again to prevent stiffness and improve blood flow to injured muscles.

Engaging in slow, easy stretching and walking for 10-minute increments can help. Examples include pulling the knees in toward the chest or pulling straight legs toward the chest.

While some activities can be beneficial, others have the potential to worsen back pain. Avoid activities that involve:

  • heavy lifting
  • twisting the spine, such as hitting a golf or tennis ball

In addition to at-home treatments, your doctor may recommend and prescribe additional treatments. Examples include:

  • physical therapy
  • stronger anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or pain medications
  • steroid injections

In rare instances, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct injuries. If you have chronic back pain that was worsened by an injury, this may be the case.

When Should I Seek Treatment For My Lower Back Pain

Back Pain: When Should You See a Doctor? — MetroHealth, Cleveland, Ohio

If you cant walk, cant move without severe pain, or are in too much pain to do anything else, you should seek medical treatment. However, if walking causes mild to moderate discomfort, try walking for up to 30 minutes several times a day. It could help alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall level of fitness.

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How Can You Prevent Low Back Pain From Returning

After you’ve had low back pain, you’re likely to have it again. But there are some things you can do to help prevent it. And they can help you get better faster if you do have low back pain again.

To help keep your back healthy and avoid further pain:

  • Practice good posture when you sit, stand, and walk. “Good posture” generally means your ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line.
  • Get regular, low-impact exercise. Walk, swim, or ride a stationary bike. Stretch before you exercise.
  • Sleep on your side.
  • Watch your weight.
  • Don’t try to lift things that are too heavy for you. When you must lift, learn the right way to lift.

If you sit or stand for long periods at work:

  • Sit or stand up straight, with your shoulders back.
  • Make sure your chair fits you and has good back support.
  • Take regular breaks to walk around.

If your work involves a lot of bending, reaching, or lifting:

  • Talk to your human resources department to see if there are other ways you can do your work.
  • Don’t depend on a “back belt” to protect your back.

What Is Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a very frequent ailment that may affect people of all ages and socioeconomic statuses, but its critical to understand what causes lower back pain in order to choose the best course of therapy. Lower back pain is often described as a dull ache or sharp shooting sensation and usually manifests itself as sciatica, lumbago, and even herniated disc.

The term lower back pain is an all-encompassing phrase that encompasses many different causes of pain, including herniated disc, damaged vertebrae, muscle spasms, and other painful conditions. But these are all essentially caused by the same underlying issue: inflammation.

Inflammation is the bodys response to injury to the soft body tissue. When the muscles in your back are strained or damaged, the surrounding tissue will swell up and create pain, particularly in the lower region of your back.

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Pay Attention To Your Body Mechanics And Posture

Body mechanics are the way you use your body. Posture is the way you sit or stand.

  • To prevent a return of low back pain, you will need to take extra care when you lift. When you must lift, bend your knees and flex from your hips. Don’t let your spine slump.
  • Back Problems: Proper Lifting
  • Think about your posture, whether you are sitting or standing. Slumping or slouching alone may not cause low back pain. But after the back has been strained or injured, bad posture can make pain worse. “Good posture” generally means your ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line. If this posture causes pain, you may have another condition such as a problem with a disc or bones in your back.
  • Learn About The Different Back Pain Specialists

    Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain?

    When a back problem occurs, it’s typically a good idea to first consult with a primary care physician. This doctor will conduct an initial exam and, depending on the findings, he or she may refer you to a spine specialist.

    If you are referred to a specialist for chronic back pain, it will likely be to one of the following:

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    Causes Of Walking Lower Back Pain

    Your doctor will do a thorough examination of your body to determine the source of your lower back pain when walking. Some of the most common causes include:

    Unfortunately, there are many other possible causes of lower back pain when walking. Your doctor will determine the cause by asking you questions about your personal health history and conducting physical tests. You should submit as much information about your medical history as possible to ensure that the right diagnosis is obtained.

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