When your spine is in pain, it makes life unbearable because it affects your posture. You cannot stand or accomplish your daily work when in pain. It also affects your movement and your flexibility in bending. Luckily, your spine pain in Holmdel specialist, Dr. Varma is ready to put an end to your pain to help you accomplish your goals.
What is Spine Pain?
Spine pain is any discomfort or pain you experience in the lower back, upper back, and neck. The lower back and neck pain are prone to pain because of moving, twisting, and bending. The two body parts also have a weight-bearing function.
Causes of Spine Pain
There are various causes of spine pain including:
- Muscle strains
- Joint pain
- Nerve pain
- Muscle spasm
- Spinal stenosis
- Arthritis
Symptoms of Spine Pain
- Muscle spasms with activity or when resting.
- Stiffness in the low back area, affecting your movement.
- Persisting pain for a maximum of 10 – 14 days.
- Inability to maintain normal posture because of pain or stiffness.
- Pain radiating into the arms, around the chest, or down to the legs.
How to Diagnose Spine Pain
When you visit Gramercy Pain Center, your doctor will inquire about your medical history. Your doctor will also conduct various diagnostic tests including X-ray, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan with 3-D reconstruction, Electromyography, or nerve conduction velocity testing (EMG/NCV), to get a clear understanding of your condition.
Treatment of Spine Pain
Your doctor may elect the following treatment options depending on your condition:
Non- Surgical Treatment
If strains, sprains cause your pain and even structural neural compression from disc herniations, your doctor may recommend diminished activity and bed rest for a short period of one to two days. Muscle relaxants and narcotic medication may be added in case of severe pain.
Physical Therapy
Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy. Your therapist will perform an in-depth evaluation, combined with your doctor’s diagnosis, to dictate a treatment specifically designed for spinal pain. Therapy may include various activities such as gentle massage, ice, and heat therapy, pelvic traction, stretching exercises, ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation.
Prognosis
If your spine pain was caused by lumbar strain or sprain injury, your doctor might recommend a prognosis. Your doctor may also recommend using heat and ice treatment to treat flare-ups or low back pain, together with anti-inflammatory medications.
Interventional Pain Management Treatment Options
Your doctor will recommend any of these pain management treatments depending on your condition.
- Disc decompression
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Nerve blocks
- Trigger point injections
- Epidural steroid injections
- Platelet-rich plasma injection
Surgical Treatment
After diagnosis, your doctor may find that your spine pain is caused by a herniated disc, radiating leg pain, or progressive muscle weakness, caused by nerve compression. In this case, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment. Surgery procedure is usually reserved for pain related to structural problems that have not responded to other therapy.
The spine is one of the most important parts of your body. The Gramercy Pain Center team is dedicated to ensuring you have a healthy spine for an active life. Call or book your appointment online to learn more about how you can get help.
