Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions 1

Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions‫ן‬www.hqbk.com

Back pain can range from a persistent dull ache to sudden sharp and chronic pain. The article discusses FAQs on back pain.

Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. According to Mayo Clinic, about 80% of all Americans experience low back pain at least once in their lives. Multispecialty healthcare centers in Brooklyn, NYC offer a wide variety of non-surgical back pain treatment options to reduce chronic pain, and improve physical function, muscle strength and quality of life. Here are the answers to some common back pain questions: What is back pain?

Back pain refers to acute or chronic pain experienced in the lower, middle and upper back area associated with the sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and lower portion of the cervical spine. The pain can range from a persistent dull ache to a sudden sharp pain.

What are the typical causes of back pain?

A wide variety of reasons can cause or contribute to back pain. It can occur due to sports injuries, overuse incidents, work or auto accident injury, poor body mechanics/posture, stretching, straining and lifting, repetitive motion or even by simply bending to pick up a dropped object from the floor. Many additional conditions and disease such as sciatica, osteoarthritis, herniated discs, compression fracture, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, obesity and even infections, tumors, and autoimmune diseases can lead to this condition. Many women experience back pain while pregnant.

Why is the back so vulnerable to pain?

The back is a complicated structure made up of bones, muscles, joints and connective tissues that must work in unison to help you walk upright, stand, bend and twist. Therefore, any problem in any one of the components of the area can cause pain, stiffness and dysfunction.

What are the potential risk factors of back pain?

Anyone can develop back pain, but some people are more susceptible. Risk factors include age, lack of exercise, excess body weight, smoking, improper lifting and psychological conditions. People who have physically demanding jobs or lifestyles are at higher risk of back problems.

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Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions‫ן‬www.hqbk.com

Why is back pain often accompanied by leg pain?

Low back pain accompanied by leg pain, tingling or numbness is often a sign of sciatica.

Generally, this problem occurs when a disc or other structure presses against the sciatic nerve roots.

What kinds of injuries can cause pain in the back area?

High-impact events such as acute auto accidents, slip and fall injury, or high-impact sports injury can easily tear the muscles and tendons of the back, jolt the spine, and throw its components out of alignment, causing pain and stiffness.

What are the common symptoms of back pain?

Common signs and symptoms of the condition include – muscle aches, stabbing or shooting pain, pain that radiates down your leg, limited flexibility or range of motion of the back, muscle weakness, tingling sensations or numbness.

How is back pain tested and diagnosed?

At reliable multi-specialty healthcare centers in Brooklyn, NYC, pain management doctors will perform a thorough medical history checkup and identify the precise location of the problem.

They may examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. These assessments will help determine the source of pain, and verify the extent of movement, and whether you have any muscle spasms. Diagnostic imaging tests such as MRI scans, CT scans, X-rays and Nerve studies (electromyography, or EMG) of the spine may to diagnose the spinal misalignment and detect the root cause of pain. Based on the results of diagnostic evaluation, a customized treatment program will be designed to address your back pain management needs.

What are the non-surgical treatment modalities?

The type of treatment modality will vary from one person to another and mainly depend on the type, intensity and location of pain. At a reliable healthcare center, an experienced team of pain management specialists, neurologists and physical therapists will work together to create a personalized treatment plan for effective back pain management. Modalities in a treatment plan may include physical therapy, prolotherapy, TENS, NSAIDS, spinal manipulation, chiropractic care, manual techniques, epidural steroid injections and exercise.

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Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions‫ן‬www.hqbk.com

The type of treatment modality will vary from one person to another and mainly depend on the type, intensity and location of pain. At a reliable healthcare center, an experienced team of pain management specialists, neurologists and physical therapists will work together to create a personalized treatment plan for effective back pain management. Modalities in a treatment plan may include physical therapy, prolotherapy, TENS, NSAIDS, spinal manipulation, chiropractic care, manual techniques, epidural steroid injections and exercise.

How can back pain be prevented?

Learning and practicing proper body mechanics can help prevent back pain or prevent its recurrence. Some of the best methods to avoid backache are regular exercise, good posture, maintaining a nutritious diet, and lifting objects the proper way. In addition, it is also not advisable to sit or stand for long periods of time. Doing stretching and strengthening exercises on a regular basis can also help keep back pain at bay.

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Back Pain – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions‫ן‬www.hqbk.com