Back pain can be debilitating – sometimes you cannot find a position that feels comfortable, even if you lie down. This interferes with everything from performing everyday tasks to simply trying to get a good night’s sleep.
Many conditions can cause back pain, but fortunately, a back doctor can help treat them all and help you find lasting relief. Let’s talk about some of the most common issues that tend to cause back pain, and where you can go in Melbourne and the Space Coast for world-class spine care to help you get back to your active lifestyle.
What Can Cause Back Pain?
Some of the most common conditions back doctors can help treat include:
Herniated Discs
A spinal disc becomes herniated when a tear or crack forms in the tough outer layer of the disc, and the gel-like center bulges out through the tear. This bulge can put constant pressure on nearby nerves, causing pain.
A skilled back doctor can offer various treatments which can relieve the pressure on the nerve and alleviate the pain. Your provider may recommend and provide physician-administered steroid injections and pain medication for pain relief. If your back pain is severe and doesn’t respond to conservative treatments, your condition may warrant minimally invasive spine surgery.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease happens when the vertebral discs begin to break down as we get older. What happens is that the discs gradually lose hydration, so they begin to dry out – so they become thinner and less able to cushion the spine. As a result, you may experience pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.
Your back doctor may recommend certain exercises and stretches to help improve your spine’s flexibility and strength. You may also need pain-relief injections or medications to reduce inflammation and alleviate your back pain.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and it occurs when the cartilage between the bones in a joint breaks down. It can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Each set of two adjacent vertebrae in the spine is joined by a joint, and these joints do have protective cartilage that can wear down over time – just like virtually every joint in the body. Your back doctor can evaluate the severity and extent of the arthritis in your back and explain the options that would work best for you.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the space in the spine which houses the spinal cord. When this area becomes narrow, the vertebrae can put inward pressure on the nerves.
This condition can cause back pain, numbness, and weakness. Your provider may recommend medication or, in severe cases of spinal stenosis, surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves.
When to See a Back Doctor
A back doctor can diagnose the cause of your back pain and recommend and administer treatment options. Seek medical assistance if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Back pain that lasts more than a few days
- Pain that gets worse with rest or activity
- Pain that radiates from your lower back down your leg, or from your neck to your shoulder
- Numbness or weakness in your legs
- Difficulty urinating or having a bowel movement
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
If left untreated, back pain and neck pain can lead to chronic pain and disability. They can also cause complications that affect other body parts, such as the arms and legs. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help you achieve lasting relief.
Experienced Back Doctor in Melbourne, FL
Back conditions can be painful and debilitating, but a skilled back doctor can help you relieve your pain and return to living your life. Central Florida Spine & Pain is here for you if you need treatment for back problems. Our board-certified interventional pain management physician, Dr. Nicholas Giordano, can provide you with comprehensive care to achieve relief from back pain and neck pain, and we are conveniently located in Melbourne.
Call us today at (321) 802-5021 to schedule a consultation where we can explain the back and neck pain treatments that would work for you. If you prefer, you can fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to serving you!
