Back pain is one of the most common pains people experience. It is often painful to sit and stand and can make it difficult to do even the simplest of tasks. Since your back is a collection of muscles, bones, and other tissues working together to move and support your entire body it is often difficult for a general physician to provide proper or adequate treatment and pain relief. The physicians at MVM Health – Pain, Vein, and Wellness are industry experts in pain management and can help you find a pain relief solution with lasting results.
Symptoms of Back Pain
If you are experiencing back pain, you already know the debilitating effects it can have on regular movement and function. Back pain can range from a simple muscle ache to pinpoint or generalized shooting, burning, or stabbing sensations. Referred pain may also radiate down the legs and to other parts of the body depending on the affected nerves. Bending, twisting, lifting, or even standing and walking can make the condition and symptoms worse.
The causes of back pain are from multiple sources. In many cases the etiology of low back pain can be muscle-related conditions, compression of nerves, fractures of the spine, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, pain after surgery and others. At MVM Health, our highly trained specialist focus on identifying the primary and secondary causes of your back pain. After precise identification of your pain source, our specialist recommends treatment options that provide maximum relief with minimum risk.
When Should You Seek Medical Assitance For Back Pain?
General back pain is rarely life-threatening albeit incredibly uncomfortable. However, if you are experiencing back pain with any of the following, you should seek medical attention:
- weight loss
- fever
- inflammation or swelling of the back
- persistent back pain where lying down or resting does not help
- pain down the legs
- pain that reaches below the knees
- a recent injury, blow, or trauma to the back
- urinary incontinence or difficulty urinating
- fecal incontinence, or loss of control over bowel movements
- numbness around the genitals, anus, or buttocks
What Causes Back Pain?
Anyone can develop back pain, even children and teens. In most cases, back pain is a result of strain, tension, or injury. Frequent causes of back pain are:
- strained muscles or ligaments
- muscle spasms
- muscle tension
- damaged disks
- injuries, fractures, or falls
During these injuries muscles and tissues can be torn or overexerted causing lasting damage and discomfort. In severe cases such as Degenerative Disc Disease, the discs between vertebrae will lose cushioning causing the discs to painfully interact with almost any motion.The spine loses flexibility and bone spurs may pinch a nerve root causing pain, inflammation, and/or weakness.
Back pain is one of the most common causes for patients seeking emergency care. Research by Mayo Health Clinic and the National Institutes of Health found that 80% of the population will have low back pain in their lifetime. Sometimes people experience immediate pain after a known cause while others develop pain over time and are unaware of what may have initially caused it. In many cases, low back pain can be muscle-related conditions, compression of nerves, fractures of the spine, herniated discs, osteoarthritis, pain after surgery, and others.
Other conditions that affect your back and can cause discomfort are:
- Tailbone Pain (Coccydynia)
- Compression Fractures of the Spine
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Discogenic Pain
- Herniated Disc
- Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
- Osteoarthritis of the Spine
- Post-Laminectomy Syndrome
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Scoliosis
- Spinal Stenosis
- Spondylolysis
- Post Surgical Pain
Contributing Factors
Certain medical conditions, mental health illnesses, and sedentary or extreme lifestyles put you at a higher risk of developing back pain. Medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, blood clotting disorders, and nerve disorders can also increase the chances of developing back pain.
Job-related risk factors like stress can cause muscle tension, which can contribute to back pain. Jobs that require heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or twisting can increase the likelihood of a back injury after repetitive stress in the area or as a result of improper lifting. A desk job may also play a role, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair.
A sedentary lifestyle can also make you more susceptible to back injuries and pain. Not exercising your body can cause muscles in the back and abdomen to weaken.
As you age, you may also feel the development of conditions that cause pain and discomfort. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that adults aged 65 and over were most likely to experience pain in the arms, wrists, and hands. It comes as no surprise that untreated or chronic developing conditions incrementally increase pain levels past the point where regular pain medications provide adequate relief.
Treating Sever and Chronic Back Pain
Many patients find that severe back pain rarely resolves without physician care and support. At MVM Health in East Stroudsburg, our highly trained specialists focus on identifying & treating your pain’s primary and secondary causes. After precise identification of your pain source, our specialist recommends treatment options that provide maximum relief with minimum risk. We offer a wide range of treatments for back pain including therapy, injections, and other medical procedures.
Specific back pain treatment options include:
- Conservative measures (Physical Therapy)
- Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection
- Celiac Plexus Block (Percutaneous Approach)
- Cluneal Nerve Blocks
- Discography (Thoracic)
- Discography (Lumbar)
- Facet Joint Injection
- Intrathecal Pump Implant
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Sympathetic Block
- Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
- Mild Procedure (Vertos Medical)
- Medial Branch Block
- Prolotherapy Treatment for Chronic Lower Back Pain
- PRP Therapy for Chronic Back Pain
- RACZ Caudal Neurolysis
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy (Endoscopic method)
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Lumbar Facets
- Selective Nerve Root Block (SNRB) in the Lumbar Spine
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant (Trial Procedure)
- Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Disc
- Superion Interspinous Spacer (Vertiflex)
- Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection
- Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
What Can You Do To Prevent Back Pain?
There are several lifestyle changes you can make that will help reduce or prevent back pain. Many of these changes can benefit your entire body. Common preventative actions include managing stress, engaging in moderate physical activity, and balancing your diet to help strengthen your body. These activities will help you maintain a healthy weight as obesity is commonly linked to back pain.
The type of physical activity you do matters too. If you are heavy lifting or participating in contact sports, then you want to make sure you are taking precautions like using protective gear and using the right posture to avoid injuries. If your job demands too much or too little physical activity, take the proper measures to ensure you protect your body by taking breaks or using ergonomic furniture.
Other overall health practices include:
- Quitting smoking
- limiting alcohol intake
- staying hydrated
- sleeping well
Making healthy lifestyle choices and taking the proper precautions will support your treatment goals. Our physicians found that patients who dedicate themselves to a healthier lifestyle often increase the efficiency of any treatment they receive.
Back Pain at MVM Health
If you are living with chronic pain that is affecting your enjoyment of day-to-day life, our team of Harvard-trained physicians is proud to provide state-of-the-art pain relief options throughout Pennsylvania. Now, you can benefit from modern solutions within a few minutes from home. For patients in Pennsylvania, MVM Health is glad to offer pain relief services in East Stroudsburg, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, and Lehigh Valley.
Comfort and transparency are important to MVM Health’s clinical operations. Our experts are glad to offer guidance and a variety of treatment methods for chronic pain in your arms, legs, head, back, pelvis, and other areas of your body. Call (570) 445-2200 to request an appointment and find out how MVM Health can help.
