What is back pain?
Back pain is uncomfortable and potentially debilitating. It affects your quality of life and limits your ability to function normally. In many cases, back pain will subside on its own given time to rest. Heat or over-the-counter pain medication may also help.
For chronic or lingering back pain, Advanced Sports & Spine offers customized back pain treatment in the Charlotte area. Our integrative approach to pain management includes non-surgical, non-opioid treatments.
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Back and spine trauma
Our daily movements generally do not cause back pain or problems. However, over time, age, wear and tear, overuse, or injuries can lead to issues. Back injuries refer to any problems from the neck to the tailbone. This includes the bones, joints, discs, muscles, and ligaments.
Injuries are common during sporting events, projects, or work-related activities. Trauma may occur from performing a movement that is not often done, such as lifting a heavy object. Poor posture, car accidents, falls, and degenerative diseases are other common causes of back or spine injuries.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT NOWBack pain is a common ailment with multiple causes including injury, underlying conditions, or untreated spinal problems.
Arthritis is a common cause of back pain. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the spine. The cartilage that cushions and protects the joints breaks down causing swelling, pain, and possibly bone spurs. Osteoarthritis typically occurs with age, but trauma, injuries, or genetic defects can also trigger the disease.
Disc problems are commonly referred to as bulging, slipped, or herniated discs, but the problems are not the same. A bulging disc is often age-related and occurs when the soft content inside the disc dries up. The content then becomes compressed and pushes out causing pain and affecting the nerves of the spine. A slipped or herniated disc occurs when that soft content pushes out through a tear in the disc.
Sciatica refers to the numbness, pain, or tingling sensation that radiates through the sciatic nerve. This nerve is the largest in the body and is the union of five nerves in the lower spine. It then travels through the buttocks, legs, and into the feet. Pain or discomfort may occur anywhere along the sciatic nerve and can range from mild to excruciating.
Low back strain is often the result of damaged soft tissues such as a pulled muscle. Although a pulled muscle may seem minor, the pain and spasms can cause severe pain. Muscle strain occurs when the fibers of the muscle become damaged or torn due to overuse or overstretching. This leads to inflammation, tenderness, cramping, and pain.
This rare neuromuscular disorder occurs when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is located in the buttocks near the hip and is responsible for stabilizing the hip and lifting and rotating the thigh away from the body. When this muscle spasms, it can compress the sciatic nerve. The result is pain, tingling, and numbness.
To be considered a compression fracture, the spine height of the vertebral bone decreases by 15-20% due to the fracture. A compression fracture can occur anywhere in the spine but is most commonly found in the upper back. Symptoms of a compression fracture include back pain, deformity, organ crowding, and loss of muscle due to inactivity. Compression fractures are commonly caused by osteoporosis or weakened bones.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a rare disorder that refers to prolonged pain following an injury. The exact cause is unknown but may involve abnormal inflammation or nerve dysfunction. Generally, the pain felt is worse than expected from the injury that causes it.
The coccyx is the bony structure at the base of the spine, commonly known as the tailbone. Tailbone pain may be due to an injury, trauma, prolonged sitting, and even childbirth. This pain is often dull or achy, but certain movements can cause sharp pain. Coccyx pain usually subsides on its own after a few weeks, but prolonged pain may require medical attention.
About Treatments for Back Pain
At our offices in Charlotte, Huntersville and Fort Mill, we offer several different options for treating back pain. Regenerative medicine, such as PRP therapy and stem cell therapy, along with radiofrequency ablation and trigger point injections, are just a few of the treatments we offer to help reduce back pain.
Exercises are a great way to strengthen and support your back. A combination of exercises and back pain treatment may be necessary to fully relieve your pain or treat your injury.
It is always a good idea to discuss your exercise plans with your doctor before starting them on your own to avoid further damage to your back. As always, avoid exercises and movements that increase your pain. Our team can assess the cause of your back pain and recommend the appropriate exercises and treatment for your needs.
While back pain may subside on its own within a few weeks of rest, lingering pain should be evaluated. If you have serious or chronic back pain that affects your quality of life, contact a health professional. One of our board-certified physiatrists can evaluate your back condition.
Back pain may represent various issues from minor to severe. Mild muscle soreness or inflammation may subside with rest and at-home treatment. More serious injuries or degenerative diseases require medical intervention to treat the condition and relieve your back pain.
Without knowing the exact cause of your pain, it is hard to say if the pain will resolve on its own. Contact a pain management specialist to evaluate and treat your back pain, especially if the pain is severe or does not subside on its own.
Any injury or trauma to your back has the potential to be serious. It affects your mobility and quality of life. If your back pain is severe or does not go away with rest and at-home measures such as over-the-counter pain relief, ice, or heat, it is time to contact a physician. An evaluation is necessary to determine the source of your back pain and how serious the condition is.
Our joints wear down with age, wear and tear, and injuries. Protecting and strengthening your joints are a great way to keep them healthy.
To keep your back healthy, remember to maintain good posture. Avoid slouching or slumping as it is hard on your spine. Also, be sure to exercise regularly, strengthen your core which helps support the spine, avoid lifting heavy items, and wear shoes with good support.
How long your back pain lasts depends on the underlying cause of the pain. Acute pain from a minor injury may last a few days to a couple of weeks and may resolve with at-home treatment. More serious injuries or conditions may require medical interventions and rehabilitation to relieve your pain. Treatments, exercises, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes may help relieve your pain once the source is determined.
Finding the right back pain treatment requires determining the cause of the pain. Schedule an appointment with your pain management team for an evaluation. Once the root of your pain is known, we can devise treatment options to ease your back pain.
A pulled muscle or muscle spasm is a common cause of back pain. Symptoms of a pulled muscle include:
