Gain Independence from Your Back Pain

Jun 1, 2018

Back pain can exist anywhere from the base of your neck to the tail end of your rib cage. The ribs connect to the sternum located in the center of the chest and extend around to the back area. If a nerve that exists in this area is irritated, pinched, or damaged, you will likely experience pain in other locations where the nerve passes through like your arms or stomach. The American Chiropractic Association reports that over half of the population in the United States experience some type of back pain each year, while 80 percent of the population will experience back pain during their lives.

The effects of back pain aren’t limited to individuals. In fact, the total annual medical cost of treating back pain in the U.S. exceeds $50 billion per year. It is also the leading cause of missed work and disability. Considering the impact back pain has on America’s economy and workforce, as well as the debilitating effects it has on individuals, understanding the causes and available treatment options is critical.

What Causes Back Pain?

Most patients who suffer from back pain do so as a result of:

  • Strain, stress, and pressure that gradually accumulates over time
  • Muscle damage or injury
  • Ligament damage or injury
  • Disc damage or injury
  • Poor posture
  • Excessive pressure applied to the spinal nerves
  • A fractured vertebrae
  • Osteoarthritis triggered by the depletion of cartilage in the spine
  • Myofascial pain that irritates the connective tissue of an individual or cluster of muscles

 

Although uncommon, it is possible to experience back pain as a result of other health conditions like some type of infection or cancer.

What Are The Symptoms?

The majority of patients who suffer from back pain experience:

  • Pain that ranges from dull to sharp
  • Muscle stiffness or loss of flexibility
  • Arm or leg weakness
  • Tingling sensations within the arms, legs, or stomach
  • Numbness

 

Diagnosing Back Pain

Allowing an experienced orthopedic doctor to conduct a complete examination is the first step to diagnosing back pain. Your orthopedic doctor will discuss the history of your health, ask what type of symptoms you’re experiencing, and the type of work or activities you perform on a regular basis. During the examination, they may request the use of an imaging device like an X-ray to understand the micro aspects of your condition or to understand if a herniated disc exists.

Depending on your condition and the extent of your pain, additional tests may be required to verify the root cause of your pain.

Orthopedic Treatment

Most patients are able to address mild to moderate forms of back pain using:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an anti-inflammatory drug like Aleve
  • The application of heat or ice
  • Low-impact exercise
  • Message therapy
  • Manual adjustments

 

However, if the extent of your back pain is significant, you may require particular treatment solutions that are more in-depth or invasive.

Home Remedies

If you are currently suffering from back pain and would like to try to suppress your symptoms in conjunction with your doctor’s recommendations, consider:

  • Getting more rest and slowly returning to your normal routine
  • Use a heating back or ice pack
  • Stretching and strengthening the muscles in your back, shoulders, and abdomen
  • Maintain healthy, positive posture
  • Relaxation or breathing techniques
SHARE:

Search

Contact Us

  • * Al enviar el formulario, das tu consentimiento para que AICA Ortopedia se ponga en contacto contigo a través de mensajes de texto, llamadas telefónicas y correo electrónico en la información de contacto proporcionada.

  • Este campo es un campo de validación y debe quedar sin cambios.

Categories

Visite una de nuestras 17 ubicaciones en Metro Atlanta

Winder

Calle Lee, 16 Winder, GA 30680

McDonough

259 Jonesboro Rd McDonough, GA 30253

Lawrenceville

217 Scenic Hwy S, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Montaña de Piedra

1000 Main Street, Ste C Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Macon

626 1st St Macon, GA 31201

Newnan

2700 Autopista 34 Este Newnan, GA 30265

Duluth

3775 Venture Drive, Edificio F Duluth, GA 30096

Chamblee Tucker

3166 Chestnut Drive Connector, Suite 100, 200 Atlanta, GA 30340

College Park

Avenida Virginia 1624 College Park, GA 30337

Conyers

2375 Wall Street Southeast #135 Conyers, GA 30013

Jonesboro

Carretera Mount Zion 750 Jonesboro, GA 30236

Kennesaw

3825 Cherokee Street Northwest Kennesaw, GA 30144

Lithia Springs

530 Thornton Road Lithia Springs, GA 30122

Marietta

1965 North Park Place Southeast, Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30339

Snellville

2346 Wisteria Drive, Suite 110 Snellville, GA 30078

Stockbridge

260 Corporate Center Drive, Suite E Stockbridge, GA 30281

Buckhead

2045 Peachtree Road Northwest, Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30309