Back pain is a common health condition that affects people of all ages but is more prominent among adults. It can interfere with your ability to stay active and perform daily tasks, often leading to discomfort, stress, anxiety, or depression. Fortunately, there are a ton of medical treatment options that can help alleviate your back pain symptoms. Through a pain management specialist from some of the best Jersey City back pain clinics, you can acquire various back pain therapies such as physical and massage therapies. Learn more on how to manage and treat your back pain symptoms.

What causes back pain?

Back pain can be caused by an injury, a medical condition, age, posture, or strenuous back activities. Activities such as lifting heavy objects or improperly carrying or lifting things can result in back strain muscles, injuries, or muscle spasms. 

Issues with your back structure can also contribute to frequent back pains. Issues such as bulged, herniated, ruptured discs, arthritis, osteoporosis, etc., can massively contribute to your back pain.

When should you see a doctor?

The most obvious and common back symptom includes feeling pain or a heavy ache anywhere on your back. Also, this pain or discomfort can affect other parts of your body, such as the legs, thighs, or gluteal muscles. However, it would be best to see a doctor if you begin experiencing any of the listed symptoms below.

  • Numbness around the groin area or buttock
  • Fever
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Inflammation or swelling on your back
  • Urinary or bowel incontinence
  • Persistent back pain that does not go away even after lying down

How is back pain diagnosed?

During your back pain medical appointment, your doctor will conduct a physical examination that includes asking questions about your symptoms. Whether you have acute or chronic back pain, your doctor will recommend various imaging scans such as X-rays, bone, MRI scans, or an electromyography scan.

Your doctor might recommend other types of physical diagnosis: chiropractic adjustment, osteopathy, or physical therapy. If your doctor determines a potential problem with your back, you will need to begin treatment immediately.

Back pain treatment

You can alleviate your back pain through home treatment or medical treatment options. The home treatment remedies involve using over-the-counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen or ice packs. Also, resting and making short walks will help ease muscle stiffness and weakness.

On the other hand, medical treatment involves seeking treatment from a medical facility where you must undergo physical therapy or take several prescribed medications. Also, your doctor might recommend other personalized pain relief injections such as the Lumbar interlaminar epidural steroid and the Lumbar facet block injections. The latter relieves pain and inflammation in your lower back, while the former relieves pain by reaching multiple nerves on the back. 

If your back pain results from arthritis or disc degeneration, your doctor will use the Lumbar radiofrequency ablation to stop the nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. Most of these back pain treatment options focus on your back’s structural parts and nerves.

Back is a common problem that can affect you at any age. Call Garden State Pain & Orthopedics if you have had consistent back pain symptoms for over three weeks. Persistent back pain can signify an underlying medical condition and thus should not be ignored. Book or schedule an appointment to learn about the remedies for your chronic back pain.