Back Pain

What is back pain?

A healthy spine consists of bones, muscles, nerves, and flexible tendons and ligaments that work in harmony to support your body. It has five distinct regions:

• Cervical spine (neck)
• Thoracic spine (upper back)
• Lumbar spine (lower back)
• Sacral spine
• Coccyx

If there's a problem with one or more of these structures, it can cause varying degrees of back pain. The back and spine specialists of Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center are board-certified and fellowship-trained, so they can accurately diagnose and effectively treat all musculoskeletal causes of back pain.

What might be causing my back pain?

Some of the conditions that commonly cause back pain include:

• Herniated and dislocated discs
• Arthritis
• Bone spurs
• Pinched nerves
• Osteoporosis
• Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Muscle and ligament strains
• Degenerative disc disease
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis

After reviewing your symptoms, your provider at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center performs a physical examination to determine the severity of your condition and its root cause.

In addition, they may order diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan. These options allow your provider to see the exact location of the problem so they can design a suitable treatment plan.

How is back pain treated?

The treatment plan your provider designs for you depends on the severity of your pain and its source. If your symptoms are mild, you might benefit from gentle exercises, with pain relievers or low-dose antidepressants if necessary to ease any discomfort.

Further treatment for more serious or unresponsive back pain often starts with physical therapy. Other methods that can be useful for relieving back pain include massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, and decompression procedures.

Additional approaches for severe symptoms may include:

Medication

Medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or prescription medications such as oral corticosteroids or narcotics may be needed to help reduce any swelling and ease your back pain.

Injections

Steroid injections provide pain relief and reduce inflammation at the nerve root. You can have an epidural steroid injection as an outpatient treatment at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center. The steroid usually takes effect within 2-3 days.

Would I need surgery for my back pain?

If none of the nonsurgical treatments work for you, then surgery might be the best option. Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center delivers state-of-the-art surgical spine care, performing numerous types of surgery, including:

• Discectomy
• Laminectomy
• Laminotomy
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
• Disc replacement
• Lumbar vertebral body replacement
• Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (T-LIF)
• Scoliosis correction surgery

In many cases, they're able to use minimally invasive techniques that cause less pain and tissue damage, enabling you to make a faster recovery.

To find the right treatment for your back pain, call Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center today or book an appointment online.