What is back pain?
Back pain is a common complaint for many adults. Though the discomfort can affect any area of your back, it most often shows up in your lower back.
The types of pain you feel will depend on the underlying cause, ranging from a sharp, shooting pain to a dull ache. For many, back pain is acute — it comes on suddenly — and it gets better in a few weeks with at-home care.
Back pain can turn into chronic pain for some people, lasting 12 or more weeks.
What are the common causes of back pain?
Back pain most often develops from a mechanical problem that affects one or more of the many structures that make up your back, including vertebrae, ligaments, intervertebral discs, tendons, muscles, and nerves. Injury or disease can damage these structures and alter normal function, which can lead to pain.
Common causes of back pain include:
- Strains and sprains
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Skeletal irregularities
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica
- Vertebral compression fractures
Your pain could develop after a sports injury or because of the degenerative changes that happen in your back as you get older.
What happens during a back pain evaluation?
Dr. Fortin is an interventional pain management specialist and pain detective. When you come to the office for help managing your back pain, he completes a detailed assessment to find what’s causing your pain.
During your exam, he asks detailed questions about your symptoms and when they show up, as well as about the types of treatments and therapies you’ve tried to ease or eliminate your symptoms. He also reviews your medical history and examines your back.
Dr. Fortin will often order diagnostic imaging tests like X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI to better appreciate the underlying cause of your pain.
How is back pain treated?
At Spine Technology and Rehabilitation, Dr. Fortin takes an individualized approach to treating your back pain, focusing on the root cause. Your treatment plan can include:
- Physical therapy
- Regenerative medicine
- Nutritional counseling
- Interventional pain management injections
- Lifestyle wellness
Depending on the underlying cause of your back pain, Dr. Fortin could suggest minimally invasive surgery. For example, for vertebral compression fractures, he does kyphoplasty, which involves placing a special surgical balloon and cement to restore vertebral height, ease pain, and promote healing.
For a comprehensive approach to the management of your back pain that doesn’t include addictive pain medication like opioids, contact Spine Technology and Rehabilitation by phone or online today.
