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Nearly everyone experiences back pain at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor. Chances are you’ve probably felt that dull aching, sharp pain or tingling or burning sensation in your lower back muscles. You may have even had pain or weakness in your leg, hip or the bottom of your foot, depending on the cause of your pain.
If you are experiencing chronic lower back pain, there is hope – many nonsurgical treatment options can eliminate all symptoms and complications associated with chronic back pain. Norton Leatherman Spine Center specialists may suggest a variety of nonsurgical treatment options, including:
- Physical therapy
- Cold/heat therapy
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
- Injections (to reduce swelling around a nerve)
- Mental health therapy (to help you better understand and manage your pain)
If these treatments don’t provide relief from your pain, spinal surgery may be an option, but only if you have nerve damage or the condition causing the back pain does not heal after a long period of time.
For more information about back pain or to make an appointment with a spine specialist, call Norton Leatherman Spine Center at (502) 584-7525.
Learn more about back pain below:
What causes back pain?
Some causes of back pain include:
- Strain or tears to the muscles or surrounding tissues supporting the back
- Disc damage, such as herniated discs or bulging discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Certain medical conditions, such as fibromyalgia
- Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
Diagnosing back pain
Most of the time, the exact cause of the pain can be determined through a medical evaluation and diagnostic testing. Your physician will examine your back and discuss your symptoms and medical history with you to help determine your diagnosis. Additional tests, such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography scans (CT scans) may also be required to confirm a diagnosis.
Preventing back pain
Maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your abdominal muscles strong and flexible, and using good posture are all keys to preventing back pain.
For more information about the spine or to make an appointment with a spine specialist, call (502) 629-1234. |
