Category: General Questions

There are a lot of things that are nonsurgical that patients can try before considering surgery for back problems. Typically they include physical therapy and or chiropractic treatment, a home exercise program, medications, sometimes by prescription, sometimes over the counter, and injections as well.

If none of these things work and the symptoms are bad enough and there’s a reasonable surgical option, that’s when it’s time to consider surgery.

In terms of when patients should see a doctor for back pain, it really varies patient by patient. People perceive pain differently. What could be a 1 out of 10 to one patient in terms of pain could be a 9 out of 10 to another. Really when the pain is so bad that routine over-the-counter medications don’t allow you to live your life, that would be a good time as to when to see a doctor.

There are a lot of different causes of back pain. The most common one is simple sprain or strain. Someone lifts something heavy, throws their back out, if you will. And then there’s some underlying things that make people susceptible to that, whether it’s arthritis, preexisting herniated disc, things of that nature.

This infographic titled ‘Types of Back Pain That You Should Not Ignore’ explains the different types of back pain, their symptoms, and common treatment. Lower back pain is a very common condition. In fact, most of us have suffered some type of back pain at one point or another. But most back pain goes away with simple measures and some rest. If the pain does not go away, back pain may be the only option to treat the underlying problem and reduce the pain.

There are usually four ways back pain appears in the body:

• Dull, aching pain.
• Muscle spasms and tightening in the lower back.
• Stinging, burning pain that moves from the lower back to the back of the thighs.
• Pain that worsens after prolonged sitting or standing.

If you are experiencing any of these, you know you have back pain.

Symptoms and treatments of lower back pain:

The treatment will depend on the type of pain, and its duration. There are four types of pain:

• Acute pain: This type of pain lasts a few days or weeks and can usually be treated with physical therapy. A therapist will correct your posture and help to correct the alignment by simple physical manipulation.
• Subacute low back pain: This type of pain can last anywhere between six weeks to three months. When pain seems to be lasting for six weeks or beyond, you should visit an orthopedic specialist. Such pain may require a minimally invasive procedure.
• Chronic back pain: Pain will last more than three months indicates a deeper problem where surgery may be the recommended option. It could range from a minimally invasive procedure to operative surgery.

For more information, please check the infographic below.

Thanks to significant advancements in surgical procedures due to the improvement in technology and equipment, spinal surgery is what it is today. Patients with an extensive history of back pain due to injury in the spine can now get permanent relief from surgical treatment. However, before deciding to undergo spine surgery in Florida, you should have knowledge of the procedure and explore your options before deciding on this procedure.

When you visit a spine surgeon Florida to discuss your spinal condition, the doctor will first take scans of the affected region and analyze the results. Based on the assessment, the spine surgeon may suggest a surgical procedure or other resources for you to consider.

Before deciding on spine surgery, you must understand the procedure as well as the risks associated with it. If you find that the surgeon you are visiting has already performed these spinal procedures and has good reviews, then you can speak with them about moving forward with the process.