Back pain is best described as any sort of discomfort on the backside of your body in the area between your lower neck and tailbone. Sudden and sharp or stabbing back pain is known as acute back pain, while chronic back pain builds gradually and lasts for a longer period of time.
Whether you’re suffering from acute or chronic back pain, the dependable diagnoses, treatments and care you’re looking for are available through Riverview Health.
Some symptoms that may appear with your back pain include:
You should seek same-day care for low back pain that’s accompanied by a loss of bladder or bowel control, as well as numbness or weakness in the legs or arms. This may be due to compression of the nerves in the lower spine.
In some rare cases, back pain can be a sign of a life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack. Call 911 for back pain that’s accompanied by chest, jaw or abdominal pain, or difficulty breathing.
Some of the reasons for back pain include problems within the back itself, such as the spinal structure, nerves, muscles or ligaments.
Common causes of back pain include:
Other causes of back pain that can start elsewhere and spread to your back include gynecological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and kidney conditions.
The orthopedic spine specialists at Riverview Health may be able to find the issue behind your back pain by evaluating your symptoms, conducting a physical exam, reviewing your medical history, and going over recent physical activity. An imaging test, such as an X-ray, bone scan or MRI, may also be ordered to either confirm or rule out a diagnosis.
Some treatments that may help address your back pain include over-the-counter pain medications and prescribed exercises. Your doctor may refer you to a pain management specialist at Riverview Interventional Pain Center for an injection. If conservative treatments aren’t effective, back surgery may be an option in certain conditions.
Return to a life with less back pain by trusting your orthopedic care to the expert doctors at Riverview Health. Learn more about how we can help with this and other orthopedic conditions by contacting us today. Request an appointment with our orthopedic team by calling 317.565.0505 or by completing an appointment request form.
The orthopedic specialists at Riverview Health can diagnose and treat the causes behind back pain for people living in Noblesville, Carmel, Cicero, Fishers, Sheridan and Westfield, IN.