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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Request one of our specialists to get a second opinion, or a really good first one.

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Why Is My Ankle Hurting?

Injuries, infection, chronic medical conditions and even wearing shoes that are too tight can be the source of ankle pain. Depending on the cause, the pain may feel like a sharp, tingling, shooting pain or a dull ache on the inside or surrounding areas of your ankle.

Ankle pain is so common that it affects people of all ages and can sometimes send people to the hospital. Here are common symptoms of conditions that can make your ankles hurt as well as some helpful tips to manage your pain.

What Can Cause Ankle Pain?

Sprain - a common cause of ankle pain that occurs when the ligaments that connect the bones in the ankle stretch beyond their limits and tear. Symptoms include pain, swelling and bruising. Most sprains can be treated with rest and ice at home.
Fracture - when there is a break of one or more of the bones in the ankle. Symptoms include sudden sharp pain that can radiate throughout the lower leg, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury and difficulty walking.
Rheumatoid arthritis – a long-term, autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissue. Symptoms include morning stiffness that can last for more than one hour, pain and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis can get worse over time. Medication may help with relief.
Osteoarthritis - the most common joint disorder due to aging and natural wear and tear. When the protective cartilage in the ankles breaks and wears down, it causes the bones to rub against each other, leading to pain and instability. Symptoms include growth of bony areas over the ankle joint, stiffness and swelling. The pain tends to get worse after exercise or when you put pressure on the joint.
Gout – a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals form in the joint and cause painful inflammation in the foot, ankle or a person’s big toe. Symptoms include pain that is usually worse at night or immediately upon waking up, swelling around the ankle and warmth over the ankle joint. A person with a family history of gout is more likely to have this condition.

What Is Best for Ankle Pain?

Rest and raise your ankle above the level of your heart when you can.

Put an ice pack wrapped in a towel on your ankle for up to 20 minutes every two to three hours.

Wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole.

Wrap a bandage or put a brace around your ankle to support it.

Use assistive tools, such as crutches or a cane to avoid putting much weight on your ankle.

Try regular gentle stretching exercises.

Take paracetamol for pain. Do no take ibuprofen for the first 48 hours after an injury.

When to See A Doctor

Please seek emergency care if you continue to experience the following symptoms despite lifestyle modifications, home remedies and over-the-counter medications:

The pain stops you from doing normal activities
The pain gets worse or keeps coming back
The pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
There is a tingling or loss of sensation in your foot
You have diabetes and foot pain

Our team of compassionate and experienced orthopedic doctors and staff are here to support you every step of the way. Schedule an appointment with us so we can help you find the right solution to your condition.

Sources:
MedlinePlus
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
National Health Services UK
Medical News Today