Can Back Pain Be Cured? – Diagnosis and Treatment
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Can back pain be cured? According to a back pain doctor in Plano TX, back pain is one factor that hinders people’s day-to-day lives and affects their overall health. Back pain results from injuries, activities, and spinal disorders. It affects people of all ages. However, older adults are more vulnerable to spinal disorders and pain.
For instance, osteoporosis and degenerative disc disease associated with aging can lead to severe and chronic back pain. Lower back pain is the most common form of spinal discomfort caused by damaged discs between vertebrae, injured muscles, nerves, and internal organs.
Causes of Back Pain
Strains and sprains are the most common causes of back pain, leading to spasms, muscle tension, damaged discs, fractures, etc. You may also get spasms and strains when you lift something too heavy, improperly, or make a sudden, awkward movement.
Numerous structural problems can also cause spinal pain. These include ruptured discs, bulging discs, arthritis, osteoarthritis, misalignment, sciatica, abnormal curvature, and kidney problems.
Diagnosis
A Back pain doctor in Plano TX diagnoses back pain using different tools and methods. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. A back pain doctor in Plano TX will also carry out an imaging scan and other diagnostic tests.
The purpose is to find out whether back pain has resulted from an injury. Diagnosis also allows the doctor to find the underlying cause of the problem. Your doctor will perform different imaging tests, including:
- X-rays
- MRI
- CT scans
- EMG
- Bone scans
Common symptoms of back pain include inflammation in the spine, persistent pain, pain down your legs, trauma to the spine, fever, weight loss, difficulty urinating, numbness around the anus, buttocks, and genitals.
Can Back Pain Be Cured?
The answer is “Yes.” You can take over-the-counter drugs to relieve back pain. For instance, NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen are effective back pain treatment options, especially if you have acute pain. You can also apply a hot compress and ice pack to reduce pain.
Besides NSAIDs, you may also take muscle relaxants, analgesics, and opioids to relieve back pain. Remember that medications can cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, stomach ulcers, headaches, etc. Avoid taking opioids for a prolonged period because these medications can cause dependency and addiction.
Physical therapy involves applying heat, ice, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound to release pressure on your spinal muscles and alleviate pain. Your doctor may also prescribe steroidal injections to treat your back pain.
These are anti-inflammatory medications given through injections to reduce inflammation and swelling around the nerve roots. However, these injections can cause side effects if not injected properly. For instance, these injections can lead to cartilage damage, nerve damage, joint infection, facial flushing, inflammation, increased blood sugar levels, etc.
Spine Surgery
Can back pain be cured? According to our Back pain doctor in Plano TX, if your back pain persists for more than two to three months, it is crucial to seek advanced treatment options, such as spine surgery. Open-back and minimally invasive spine surgeries are two broad categories.
The surgeon will make a large incision of about six inches in the back during the open-back surgery. Then, the surgeon will dissect the muscles in your spine to pull them away. The process is known as muscle retraction.
Once the surgeon visualizes the spinal bones, they will carry out the procedure. Open-back surgery is a traditional approach that can cause a wide range of problems, including damage to the muscle and nerves and an increased rate of infections. Common side effects of open-back surgery include:
- A harsh reaction to anesthesia
- Bleeding and infection
- Blood clots
- Heart attack and stroke
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Sexual dysfunction
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Unlike open-back surgery, minimally invasive surgery can result in less pain, less damage to the nerves, muscles, and other soft tissues. It leads to shorter hospital stays and a faster recovery period.
Our neurosurgeon at MINT makes a small incision in the back or front to access the damaged area during the procedure. The surgeon uses advanced tools and visualization equipment to view the spine.
For instance, during PLIF surgery, our neurosurgeon makes a small incision to reach the lumbar spine, remove the damaged disc, and fill the space with bone graft material. The material fuses together over time into a single, solid bone, leading to relieving pain.
MINT is a licensed, experienced, and reputable neurosurgery clinic in Plano, TX. Our neurosurgeons perform minimally invasive surgery to relieve back pain and treat spinal disorders. Can back pain be cured? Contact us today!
