Back Pain Information & Treatments
Friday, May 18th, 2007What Is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain?
Acute pain starts quickly and lasts less than 6 weeks. It is the most common type of back pain. Acute pain may be caused by things like falling, being tackled in football, or lifting something heavy. Chronic pain lasts for more than 3 months and is much less common than acute pain.
What Are the Causes of Back Pain?
There are many causes of back pain. Mechanical problems with the back itself can cause pain. Examples are:
- Disc breakdown
- Spasms
- Tense muscles
- Ruptured discs
- Injuries from sprains, fractures, accidents, and falls can result in back pain.
Back pain can also occur with some conditions and diseases, such as:
- Scoliosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Pregnancy
- Kidney stones
- Infections
- Endometriosis
- Fibromyalgia
Other possible causes of back pain are infections, tumors, or stress.
When Should I See a Doctor for Pain? You should see a doctor if you have:
- Numbness or tingling
- Severe pain that does not improve with rest
- Pain after a fall or an injury
Pain plus any of these problems:
- Trouble urinating
- Weakness
- Numbness in your legs
- Fever
- Weight loss when not on a diet
How Is Back Pain Diagnosed? To diagnose back pain, your doctor will take your medical history and do a physical exam. Your doctor may order other tests, such as:
- X rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Blood tests
Medical tests may not show the cause of your back pain. Many times, the cause of back pain is never known. Back pain can get better even if you do not know the cause. We offer injection and non injection therapy to treat chronic back pain which includes:
- Epidural steroid injection
- Facet joint steroid injection
- Nerve root block
- Sacroiliac joint injection
- Facet Radiofrequency Rhizotomy Procedure