Back Pain

If you’re experiencing back pain, you’re not alone. Back pain, one of the most common medical conditions in the US, can range from a dull, recurring ache to sharp, sudden pain. At Saint Vincent Hospital, we have back and spine care specialists and neurosurgeons to help relieve your back pain.

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Move Better, Live Better

If back pain already affects the quality of your life, consider getting advanced and personalized back pain treatment at Saint Vincent Hospital. Our back doctors in Worcester, MA will work with you to give you a course of treatment and recovery options, focusing on recommending nonsurgical options first.

However, if non-invasive treatment options do not work, we may perform any of our spine surgery procedures suitable for your case. No matter the cause of your back pain, we can help you determine the best plan of action for your back pain through our skilled, hands-on evaluation and diagnosis.

What Causes Back Pain

Back pain may be caused by structural or medical problems that develop in the spine, muscles, ligaments, tendons or discs in the back. Inflammatory and other medical conditions may also hurt a patient’s back. While certain diseases and traumatic injuries can cause back pain, here are the common causes of back pain:

Improper Body Mechanics
Incorrect Bending or Lifting Techniques
Poor Posture
Poor Physical Condition

Our spine specialists use their clinical expertise for a quick, accurate diagnosis to develop a plan of care that fits your needs. We will exhaust every appropriate treatment option before considering surgery. For instance, our interventional specialists treat back pain with nonsurgical approaches such as medication management and injections.

However, there are cases where prescribed rest, exercise, conditioning programs or physical therapy are insufficient. If a surgical procedure becomes the right choice, our team of spine treatment specialists, including orthopedic specialists and neurosurgeons, are trained to effectively correct problems related to:

Acquired and congenital spinal deformities
Ankylosing spondylolisthesis
Congenital changes to the backbone
Degenerative disc disease
Dislocations and subluxations
Endometriosis
Fibromyalgia
Fractured vertebrae
Herniated or ruptured disc
Inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine
Kidney stones
Mechanical back dysfunction
Osteoporosis
Pregnancy
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis
Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis
Sprain
Strain and contusions
Systemic diseases affecting the spine
Traumatic and overuse spinal injuries
Tumors that develop on the spine or other back parts (rare)
Whiplash injuries
Work-related back pain

What Is a Spine Specialist Called?

The types of healthcare providers who will be involved in treating your back pain will depend on the cause of your condition:

Neurologists: treat conditions and disorders affecting the brain, spine and nerves
Neurosurgeons: perform surgery to treat nerve, brain and spinal disorders
Orthopedists: treat and perform surgery for diseases affecting the joints and bones
Pain specialists such as anesthesiologists with specialization in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of various pain types
Physical therapists: specialize in strengthening muscles
Primary or family care doctors
Rheumatologists: specialize in treating autoimmune disorders and musculoskeletal disease

When Should You See a Spine Specialist?

Depending on the severity of your back pain, you may feel pain only in a specific spot on your back or pain that radiates to your leg, hip or buttocks. You may experience worsening back pain when lifting, bending, sitting, standing or resting. Some people may feel back stiffness upon waking up with pain that lessens with activity.

You should visit a doctor if your back pain does not improve after a few weeks or if it comes along with fever, difficulty in urinating, unintended weight loss or pain, weakness or numbness in your legs. See a doctor if you feel:

Back pain after an injury or fall
Severe back pain that medication does not improve
Tingling and numbness

Back Pain Treatment

Your doctor may recommend medications to treat your back pain, such as:

Anti-inflammatory drugs
Muscle relaxants
Numbing injections
Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers

You may use cold packs to relieve some back pain and hot packs to increase blood flow in your back’s muscles and tissues to promote healing. As much as possible, avoid bed rest. Limit exercise or activities that cause pain. Increase physical activity at a pace you can tolerate.

When performing daily activities such as pulling, pushing or lifting, properly move your body. Healthy habits such as relaxation, exercise, regular sleep, quitting smoking and a healthy diet can help prevent back pain.

Physical therapy and exercise may help decrease back pain by strengthening the muscles that support your back and improving your posture, mobility and positioning. Consult with your physician before starting an exercise routine. Here are other alternative and complementary treatments that may relieve your back pain:

Acupuncture: Chinese practice that uses needles to relieve pain
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): low-voltage electric currents are used to treat pain
Spinal manipulation: to massage and adjust the spine and muscles

What Are the Different Types of Back Pain Surgery?

Back surgery procedures may be recommended to relieve pain. A doctor must thoroughly assess a patient for surgery, as not everyone may qualify. The type of surgery will depend on a patient’s medical history and the cause of back pain. The doctor will walk a patient through back pain surgery's risks and possible benefits. Here are standard spine surgery procedures:

Disc replacement surgery: a surgeon replaces a damaged spinal disc with a synthetic one
Discectomy and microdiscectomy: relieve pressure on a nerve root or spinal canal by removing part of a herniated disc
Foraminotomy: treats spinal stenosis by cleaning out and widening the area where the nerve roots leave the spinal canal
Laminectomy: the doctor eases pressure on the nerves of the back by removing the bony spurs of a patient with spinal stenosis
Laser surgery: relieves pressure on the nerves by using a laser to reduce the size of a damaged spinal disc
Radiofrequency lesioning: prevents pain signals from reaching the spinal cord
Spinal fusion: treats spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease by joining together the spinal vertebrae that have slipped from their original position

How Serious Is Back Surgery?

Back pain surgery can carry higher risks than other surgery types because this procedure is done closer to the nervous system. A patient with successful surgery may still take a long time to recover. Some patients may lose their flexibility permanently.

Treatment That Brings Relief

We strive to help you through personalized and compassionate care during your spine care journey. Contact us to receive an appropriate diagnosis on the possible causes of your back pain so we may recommend treatment options that may ease your pain.

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5 Back Pain Emergencies

Lower back pain is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. In fact, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons says that 75-85% of Americans experience back pain in their lifetime. Back pain usually results from a problem in one or more parts of the lower back, including the muscles, nerves, ligaments and the spine.

Most cases of back pain are acute or short-term and may last for several days to a few weeks. Others develop chronic back pain which may continue for at least three months, sometimes even after treatment. Meanwhile, there are also back pain emergencies that require immediate care and at times, surgery. Here are some of their symptoms:

Common Symptoms of Back Pain Emergencies

Severe back pain

Weakness in limbs

Lack of bladder or bowel control

Sharp pain in arms or legs

Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body

Types of Back Pain Emergencies

If you experience any of the abovementioned symptoms, your condition may be related to any the following back pain emergencies.

1. Spinal Fracture

Spinal fractures are caused by accidents or high-energy trauma. One of its initial symptoms is severe back pain that gets worse with movement. If the nerves and/or the spinal cord are involved in the fracture, the person may also experience bladder or bowel dysfunction, tingling, weakness in the limbs and numbness.

2. Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES)

Cauda equina (the Latin word for hose’s tail) is the bundle of spinal nerves at the end of the spinal cord. CES occurs due to spinal nerve compression which also disturbs the sensory and motor function of the bladder and lower extremities. At its worst, CES may lead to permanent paralysis. Symptoms of CES include severe low back pain, motor weakness, pain in one or both legs, sensory loss, inability to feel anything in body parts that sit on a saddle, urinary or bowel incontinence, sensory abnormalities in the bladder or rectum and loss of reflexes in the extremities.

3. Severe Herniated Disc

Bones in the spine are cushioned by round discs that serve as shock absorbers. Sudden injury and/or excessive strain may cause the inner portion of the disc to stick out through the outer ring which is called a herniated (ruptured or slipped) disc. The severe case of a herniated disk is a medical emergency because of intolerable pain and discomfort. Some of its symptoms include lower back pain, sharp leg or arm pain, loss of bladder or bowel control and numbness, weakness or tingling sensation in the foot and/or leg.

4. Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)

Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a complication of cancer that often requires emergency care. It happens when the cancer cells spread in or near the spine and press onto the spinal cord. One of its symptoms is severe back or neck pain that may worsen when you sneeze, lie down, cough, go to the toilet or lift. Other symptoms include arm and/or leg pain, difficulty in controlling your bowel or bladder, chest or abdomen pain and numbness or tingling in different parts of the body. When left untreated, MSCC may lead to paralysis.

5. Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Vertebral osteomyelitis is the most common kind of spinal infection which can be caused by spinal trauma and/or bacterial or fungal infection that spread from the blood. The inflammatory reaction may involve and destruct the cortex, bone marrow and other anatomical structures. Aside from severe back pain, the symptoms of this condition include fever, chills, weight loss, urination difficulties, muscle spasms, bowl and/or bladder incontinence and weakness and/or numbness of the legs or arms.

Final Thoughts

Back pain emergencies may be rare, but when they happen, be sure to call 911 immediately to get the treatment you need as soon as possible. Do not downplay your pain as our ER specialists and staff are ready to give excellent, compassionate emergency care 24/7.

On the other hand, if you need to consult an orthopedic doctor for a pre-existing chronic condition or for initial diagnosis, please click the button below to find a doctor and schedule an appointment.

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Sources:
World Health Organization
Healthline
National Library of Medicine
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Emory University School of Medicine
University of Utah Health