Back pain is the most common reason people miss work. With so many different causes and types of back pain, about 10 percent of Americans are afflicted every year. The condition strikes nearly 80 percent of Americans at some point in their lifetimes. So if your back is hurting, you aren’t alone … not that that makes you feel any better.
Taking Care of Your Back
Most back pain isn’t caused by anything dangerous, but any discomfort is often disabling. Your doctors at Medex focus on prevention of all types of injuries and disease by recommending steps to take to avoid back pain before it starts. For example, follow such tips as:
- Practice good posture when sitting and standing
- Avoid slouching
- Don’t put most of your weight on one leg or the other
- Use your leg muscles when lifting heavy objects
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular exercise, but avoid activities that force you to jerk or move awkwardly
- Find non-straining ways to do regular tasks, such as how to pick things up or perform repetitive motions at work
Mitigating Risk Factors
The primary focus at the Medex Diagnostics and Treatment Center is to prevent pain in the first place. Your pain management specialist sets you up to avoid back injuries in the future. At your very first visit, you’ll learn steps you can take to stay pain-free.
- Engaging in an appropriate exercise program that consists of core strengthening routines
- Quitting smoking
- Adopting a nutritional diet that helps you maintain your ideal weight
- Learning proper posture when sitting, standing and driving
- Changing the way you perform repetitive tasks
- Investing in an ergonomic workstation
- Preparing appropriately for strenuous activities
- Following proper form when playing sports
- Stretching after exercising
- Visiting your physical therapist to learn correct body mechanics
What’s Causing My Pain?
Many different factors may be causing your back pain. Your pain management doctor at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center identifies the cause through examination and testing, when necessary. Your spine is made up of many components, including supportive ligaments and cartilage that you can injure. Some major causes of back pain include:
- Skeletal deformities
- Osteoporosis that leads to compression fractures
- Arthritis
- Disc and spine degeneration
- Sciatica and other pinched nerves
- Ruptured discs
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Facet joint syndrome
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Muscle spasms
- Degenerative disc disease
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Spondylolisthesis
- Back sprain
- Piriformis syndrome
- Post laminectomy syndrome
- Underlying conditions such as kidney stones or fibromyalgia
Back Pain Treatment at Medex
In addition to physical therapy programs and lifestyle changes, your pain management doctor may recommend other treatments for your back pain, such as:
- Steroid injections
- Epidurals
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Trigger point injections
- Nerve blocks
- Spinal cord stimulator
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Stem cell therapy
- Infusion therapy
