Everyone’s back hurts once in a while. You might have done a lot of exercises, and now you just need a rest. When your back pain is persistent, though, something is probably wrong. Here are some signs that your back pain is more serious and you need low back pain treatment.
Dull pain
Dull or aching pain is usually described as pain that remains in your lower back compared to pain that is burning, stinging, or sharp. Dull pain is often accompanied by mild or severe muscle spasms, limited mobility, and aches in the pelvis and hips.
Traveling pain
This kind of pain refers to pain that travels from the lower back to the buttocks, legs, and feet. Sometimes the sharp, stinging, tingling, or numb sensations from your back move down the thighs into your legs and feet. This symptom is referred to as sciatica. It’s usually caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. The irritation is normally only felt on one side of the body.
Sitting pain
Do you feel back pain after sitting for a long time? This happens because sitting puts pressure on the discs in your spine. Getting up, walking, and stretching may alleviate the pain for the short term, but it returns after you sit back down.
When it’s time for low back pain treatment
Other than the symptoms mentioned above, there are more serious indications that your low back pain may be signaling other serious medical problems. If your back pain causes new bowel or bladder problems, is accompanied by a fever, or happens after a fall, blow to the back, or other types of injury, you should contact a doctor. You may be experiencing bulging discs or other spine disorders that might even require minimally-invasive spine surgery.
Over 1.5 billion people are living with chronic pain. It can impact your life in so many ways. You no longer can do many things that you love, and everyday activities are harder and harder to complete. You should not have to live that way, and seeking low back pain treatment can be the first step to getting your life back to being pain-free.
Pain In The Back
Spine disorders have plagued us since we started walking upright. Fortunately, modern medicine is making strides towards new improvements in spinal care and treatment. Spinal cord stimulation is one such example. This technique for pain relief may require less pain medications as well. One study’s participants undergoing high-frequency therapy reduced or halted opioid medications. That is remarkable since the participants suffered from chronic pain for an average of 13 years.
It is estimated that around 60 percent of all people that receive spinal cord stimulation therapy experienced a reduction in their pain levels, and this is maintained even up to two years after the procedure.
Back Specialist
Specialists spend an immense amount of time perfecting their respective fields. It should be expected then that a specialist will have a great deal of experience and insight into their expertise. There are over 1.5 billion people that live daily with chronic pain. Somewhat around 80 percent of adults will experience low back pain in their lives according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
As a global, scientific, and educational society the ISASS or International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery members are professionals. Degenerative Disc Disease or DDD is a somewhat common malady. Current estimates place about 30 percent of all adults between 30 and 50 have some degree of disc space degeneration.
Spine Disorders
Bulging disc might originate among three different spinal regions with spinal discs. Those regions are in the cervical (upper), the thoracic (middle), or the lumbar (lower) sections. Impressively almost all of bulging discs have the same location. Somewhere around 90 percent of all bulging discs that occur will be located in the lower back.
Certain cases may require extra attention. Surgery is a necessity for some patients to obtain relief due to pain or loss of functions. Around 10 percent of all cases require surgery. Lumbar spinal fusion is one such procedure that fuses or joins two or more vertebrae in the lower back.
No matter what the necessity is based from it is always important to communicate with the individual’s chosen surgeon. A spine surgeon Orange County trusts is going to have different experiences and qualifications than someone across the country. Whether it is a pinched nerve or herniated disc speak to an appropriate expert.
Back To Basics: Advice From A Back Specialist On Properly Avoiding Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common physical plights in the world. At some point in their lives, approximately 80% of all adults will experience lower back pain. It’s easy to take the amount of strain our backs take for granted until back pain manifests itself. And when it manifests itself, it does so with exceptional discomfort.
Because it’s such a common physical ailment, back specialists have numerous ways you can avoid pain. Most of the ways to keep back pain at bay are fairly simple but require a certain level of vigilance and deliberateness. Let’s look at a few ways you can keep your back pain-free.
It Happens
Firstly, every back specialist will tell you that it’s a fact of existing. The human body is an impressive blob of carbon and water, but it’s in no way impervious to aches and pains. Most back pains are relatively minor and can be avoided/relieved without receiving medical attention. However, it’s important to know when those pains come and to listen to their biological messages so you can intervene the moment they appear.
Respect Your Physical Limits
Sometimes human beings think they can perform physical tasks that they have no business attempting. Common back injuries come from improper lifting techniques. Overuse and overstrain can cause pain, pinched nerves, and other uncomfortable back issues. If your body is telling you to slow down the physical intensity, listen to it. Whatever you’re doing isn’t worth chronic pain, especially back pain.
Know When It’s Time To See A Back Specialist
The first two points lie largely with you and the self-awareness it takes to identify warning signs and pay attention to your body. If back pain is consistent and/or worsens, that’s no time to be prideful about having a high pain threshold. Allowing back pain to linger, you could be damaging your back even further, which can result in chronic pain or permanent injury. Early intervention is key. Furthermore, in rarer cases, spine disorders, herniated discs, nerve compression, and more serious cases can only be diagnosed by professionals. Swallow your pride and know when it’s time to call the doctor.
Forgive the pun, but it’s the backbone of your anatomy and is important to care for. Keep track of how you’re treating it day-to-day and the rest of your body will thank you.
6 Things You Can Do Every Day to Help Prevent Back Pain
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with your back over your lifetime. Scoliosis, bulging discs, spinal stenosis, other spine disorders, and back pain are all included in this list. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to at least prevent back pain on a daily basis.
Stay active
Back specialists would agree that regular exercise is great for your back health. If you’re not in good shape, you are more likely to hurt your back and feel pain doing simple movements like lifting small objects. Exercise also keeps your joints fluid and your weight down.
Watch your weight
Speaking of weight, being overweight can be bad for your back. Extra weight on your body, especially in your midsection, can worsen your back pain because it shifts your center of gravity lower, putting a strain on your lower back. Web MD recommends staying within 10 pounds of your ideal weight to help control back pain.
Focus on good posture
Maintaining the proper posture can help your back out tremendously, especially if you sit at a desk for eight to 10 hours a day for work. Try not to slouch when you’re sitting or standing by standing tall with your shoulders back. You can also switch between sitting and standing when you can so you aren’t in the same position for too long.
Watch your sleeping position
The way you sleep can greatly impact your back. It’s suggested that you should not sleep on your back if you can help it. Sleeping on your side with your knees slightly bent is ideal. If you have to sleep on your stomach, use a pillow to support your lower abdomen to take stress off your back.
Be careful how you lift things
Lifting heavy objects incorrectly is an extremely common cause of back pain and back injuries, according to many back specialists. When you’re lifting something heavy, don’t bend at your waist. Instead, you should bend your knees and squat while tightening your stomach muscles. Hold the object close to your body when you stand up, and don’t twist while you’re lifting. Additionally, push heavy objects instead of pulling them when you can.
Quit smoking
Smoking is bad for your health in so many ways, and your back health is just one of them. Smoking can actually make your back pain worse. It restricts the flow of blood vessels that contain vital nutrients to your spinal discs, making you more susceptible to injury and slower to heal.
Over 1.5 million people currently living with chronic pain. While back pain can occur to do circumstances out of your control, there are some things you can do to prevent it. Try doing some, if not all, of the things listed above to reduce your risk of back pain. You should also see a back specialist and ask about your risk and other things you can do to protect yourself from chronic back pain.
Tips for Helping You Manage Low Back Pain
Low back pain can be caused by a number of issues, including scoliosis, herniated discs, bulging discs, and even a pinched nerve. If you’re experiencing low back pain, you might have a hard time carrying out daily tasks and living your life to the fullest. Here are some tips to help you manage your low back pain.
Stretch your muscles
Stretching is a great way to relieve chronic and acute low back pain. It also helps prevent future low back problems. Because the muscles in your back extend in many different directions, it’s important to do a variety of stretches. Make sure to regularly stretch your legs, your hamstrings, your arms, and especially your back.
Heat and ice
Adding ice packs and heat pads can drastically improve your back pain. Cold applications can reduce inflammation as well as act as a local anesthetic by slowing down nerve impulses. This keeps the nerves from spasming and causing pain. Heat applications stimulate blood flow, bringing healing nutrients to the affected area of the low back. Heat also inhibits the pain messages being sent to the brain.
Wear the right shoes
Supportive footwear can make a huge difference for your low back pain. Avoid wearing heels and unsupportive shoes like flip-flops as much as possible. Be sure to wear the right shoes for the activity, like sneakers for running and work boots for construction.
Get enough sleep
Finally, you should be trying to get enough restorative sleep every night. Pain is the leading cause of insomnia. Nearly two-thirds of people with chronic back pain suffer from some type of sleep disorder. Unfortunately, inadequate sleep can make your back pain work. If you have sleep problems, you should get those addressed as well so both your back and your sleep can improve.
Neurosurgeons in Orange County CA
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, nearly 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their life. If you’re experiencing low back pain, then it’s time to see the Neurosurgeons in Orange County CA. They can help figure out exactly why you’re experiencing the pain and figure out the best solution for you so you can get your life back from chronic pain.