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There are a number of factors that lead to temporary back pain — poor posture, improper exercise, and general overuse. However, back pain that won’t seem to go away is often the cause of another underlying issue. Here’s a look at the leading factors that cause back pain, related diagnoses, and typical treatments.

Leading Factors That Cause Back Pain

These factors may cause isolated back pain or play a role in the development of conditions which promote chronic discomfort.

• Age — As patients age, their risk for back injuries increases. This increase is likely the result of heightened spinal cord and spinal disk vulnerability.
• Arthritis — Spinal arthritis can slowly wear down the cartilage in between joints, causing inflammation and pain.
• Heredity — Patients born with conditions such as scoliosis often deal with discomfort, pain, and the onset of other back issues.
• Trauma — Sudden trauma to the spine can cause a range of short- and long-term ailments, such as dislocations, fractures, and disk injuries.
• Osteoporosis — Because osteoporosis affects bone density, patients with this condition are at a higher risk of fractures.

Typical Diagnoses for Back Pain 

Through physical examination and diagnostic imaging, orthopaedists can diagnose the cause of a patient’s back pain, which may be the result of an underlying condition such as:

• Spinal stenosis — As the structure of the spine weakens due to age, illness, or injury, the space within the vertebrae may deteriorate. Such deterioration can stress the nerve roots and cause irritation.
• Herniated or ruptured disk — Injury to a spinal disc causes pain, a tingling sensation, and numbness. Patients may experience disc injuries because of a traumatic incident or long-term degeneration.
• Spinal fracture — Traumatic impact to the spine can happen on the field, in a car accident, or right at home. Such incidents may cause injuries ranging from fractures to dislocations to fracture-dislocations.

Common Treatments for Back Pain

Depending on the severity of an injury and any potential conditions, physicians may prescribe a number of remedies for back pain, including:

• Conservative treatments — Rest, OTC medications, and potential cortisone injections are the typical starting points of any treatment plan.
• Minimally invasive procedures — For patients that don’t respond to conservative treatments, orthopaedists many recommend minimally invasive procedures, such as arthroscopy.
• Operations — Patients with severe back injuries that require replacements or restoration may be recommended an invasive operation to correct the issue.

Put Back Pain Behind You  

Whether you’re suffering from a traumatic vertebrae injury, a degenerative spinal condition, or an unknown medical issue causing back pain, you can count on the orthopaedic specialists at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine. From diagnosing the cause of pain to recommending a personalized treatment plan, our team of physicians diligently work to remedy back pain. To meet with one of our specialists, complete our online request form or call 904-825-0540.   

 

Casey McClone, MD
Board Certifications in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. Dr. McClone specializes in treating musculoskeletal pain for patients of all ages with ultra-sound guided injections.