Back Pain
Everyone knows how back pain can disrupt your everyday life. At Center for Brain and Spine, we know how to get you back on your feet and feeling your best. Physicians and neurosurgeons work together to deliver the best care that not only treats your back pain but prevents it from coming back. Call the office today at (941) 893-2688 to set up your consultation appointment.
What Causes It?
While back pain is common, a number of factors heighten your risk:
- Age – particularly after 30 and 40 years old
- Lack of exercise – causes weakness in the back and abdomen
- Excess weight – adds unnecessary stress to your back
- Improper lifting form – particularly lifting with the back instead of the legs
- Smoking – reduces blood flow to the spine
In addition to these risk factors, multiple other health conditions are associated with chronic back pain. These include:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Skeletal irregularities, like scoliosis
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Muscle or ligament strain
Whatever the cause, our team has multiple options to offer for relieving back pain.
When Should I See a Doctor?
Nearly everyone experiences back pain. While prevention is key in the long term, usually a few weeks of rest and self-care at home will result in feeling normal and fully functional again. If the pain has not subsided within a few weeks, then it may be a sign of chronic back pain.
Back pain symptoms that require a doctor’s attention include:
- Severe pain or pain that does not fade with rest
- Pain that radiates down one or both legs, especially below the knee
- Weak, numb, or tingling leg or legs
- Unexplained weight loss
Additionally, if your back pain is associated with a fever or new bowel or bladder issues, seek immediate care.
How Can It Be Treated?
The physician will perform a physical examination of your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift your legs. This information helps determine the source of your pain and rules out other problematic causes. Further examination may require imaging and blood, bone, or nerve tests for accurate and precise diagnosis. The severity of your pain is a factor in the appropriate treatment option.
Acute Pain
We recommend a regimen of over-the-counter pain medication, heating pads, and light activity (provided it doesn’t increase your pain).
For more chronic cases, prescription medication such as muscle relaxants and narcotics, anti-inflammatory steroid injections, or activity and exercise under the guidance of a professional physical therapist may be necessary.
More Extreme Pain
For persistent pain, nerve compression, or structural spine issues, we may recommend advanced treatments such as injection therapies, neuromodulation, or minimally invasive surgery.
Options like PRP, stem cell therapy, and spinal cord stimulation can help reduce pain and support healing. When surgery is the best solution, our experienced neurosurgeons focus on achieving lasting relief with the least invasive approach possible.
If your back pain has not subsided after a few weeks or keeps coming back, schedule a consultation with one of our providers by calling the office at (941) 893-2688.